Estonian authorities expel head of ROC Estonian Metropolis from the country

Estonian authorities have decided to expel Metropolitan Evgeniy of Tallinn and All Estonia of the Russian Orthodox Church, reports Interfax.

Authorities refused to extend residence permit to Metropolitan Evgeniy (born Valery Reshetnikov) as they believe that he poses a threat to the country's security.

The press service of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board said, "Russian citizen Valery Reshetnikov submitted an application for the extension of a residence permit to the Police and Border Guard Board, which the board will not extend. The validity period of his current temporary residence permit expires on February 6."

According to the head of the bureau of border protection of the Pyhäjärvi prefecture, Indrek Aru, such a decision was made because "Reshetnikov, in his public activities, including public statements, supports Russia's actions in Ukraine and has not changed his rhetoric, despite the warnings previously given to him."

Therefore, he is "recognized as a threat to the security of the state," said Indrek Aru.

Metropolitan Evgeniy lived in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit for a total of four years. He was granted a residence permit for a shortened period, or twice for two years.

The last extension of the residence permit for the hierarch was granted two years ago, shortly before the start of the war in Ukraine.

The Police and Border Guard Board sent the Metropolitan the decision to the effect that he had been refused the extension of his residence permit.

As Aru noted, in the case of Metropolitan Evgeniy, it is only about assessing the results of the actions of a specific person, and the decision not to extend his residence permit "does not affect the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate and believers in any way."

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church was banned from entering Estonia.