Eesti (Estland, Estonia)

information on churches, religious communities and related institutions:

• Religion in Estonia (via estonica.org),
• Churches and Congregations in Estonia (via Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affaires),
• Eesti Evangeelne Luterlik Kirik (Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church):
• pages in Estonian ,
• information in English ,
• Kõrgem Usuteaduslik Seminar (Theological Seminary, Union of Evangelical Christian and Baptist Churches of Estonia),
• Usuteaduskond, Tartu Ülikool (University of Tartu: Faculty of Theology, in Estonian),
• Eesti Kirikute Nõukogu (Estonian Council of Churches),
• Eesti EKB Koguduste Liit (Union of Evangelical Christian and Baptist Churches of Estonia).

more links:

• Official Estonian State Web Center (general information on Estonia),
• Estonian Institute (general information on Estonia).

basic texts:

• The Constitution of the Republic of Estonia (1992, full text in English), in Estonian,

on Church & State and as regards religion see:
• § 12. [Equality, incitement of hatred]

(1) Everyone is equal before the law. No one shall be discriminated against on the basis of nationality, race, colour, sex, language, origin, religion, political or other opinion, property or social status, or on other grounds.
(2) The incitement of national, racial, religious or political hatred, violence or discrimination shall, by law, be prohibited and punishable. The incitement of hatred, violence or discrimination between social strata shall, by law, also be prohibited and punishable.
• § 8. [Estonian citizenship]

(1) Every child of whose parents one is an Estonian citizen has the right to Estonian citizenship by birth.
(2) Everyone who has lost his or her Estonian citizenship as a minor has the right to its restoration.
(3) No one shall be deprived of Estonian citizenship acquired by birth.
(4) No one shall be deprived of Estonian citizenship because of his or her beliefs.
(5) The conditions and procedures for the acquisition, loss and restoration of Estonian citizenship shall be provided by the Citizenship Act.
• § 9. [Status of non-estonian citizens; status of legal persons]

(1) The rights, freedoms and duties of each and every person, as set out in the Constitution, shall be equal for Estonian citizens and for citizens of foreign states and stateless persons in Estonia.
(2) The rights, freedoms and duties set out in the Constitution shall extend to legal persons in so far as this is in accordance with the general aims of legal persons and with the nature of such rights, freedoms and duties.
• § 40. [Freedom of religion; no state church]

(1) Everyone has freedom of conscience, religion and thought.
(2) Everyone may freely belong to churches and religious societies. There is no state church.
(3) Everyone has the freedom to exercise his or her religion, both alone and in community with others, in public or in private, unless this is detrimental to public order, health or morals.
• § 41. [Opinions and beliefs]

(1) Everyone has the right to remain faithful to his or her opinions and beliefs. No one shall be compelled to change them.
(2) Beliefs shall not excuse a violation of the law.
(3) No one shall be held legally responsible because of his or her beliefs.
• § 42. [Data protection]

State agencies, local governments, and their officials shall not gather or store information about the beliefs of an Estonian citizen against the citizen's free will.
• § 45. [Dissemination of ideas, opinions and beliefs]

(1) Everyone has the right to freely disseminate ideas, opinions, beliefs and other information by word, print, picture or other means. This right may be restricted by law to protect public order, morals, and the rights and freedoms, health, honour and good name of others. This right may also be restricted by law for state and local government civil servants, to protect a state or business secret or information received in confidence, which has become known to them by reason of their office, and the family and private life of others, as well as in the interests of justice.
(2) There is no censorship.
• § 124. [Military service, conscientious objection]

(1) Estonian citizens have a duty to participate in national defence on the bases of and pursuant to procedure provided by law.
(2) A person who refuses to serve in the Defence Forces for religious or moral reasons has a duty to perform alternative service pursuant to procedure prescribed by law.
(3) Persons in the Defence Forces and alternative service have all constitutional rights, freedoms and duties, unless otherwise prescribed by law due to the special interests of the service. The rights and freedoms prescribed in paragraphs 3 and 4 of § 8, §§ 11-18, paragraph 3 of § 20, §§ 21-28, § 32, § 33, §§ 36-43, paragraphs 1 and 2 of § 44, §§ 49-51 of the Constitution shall not be restricted. The legal status of persons in the Defence Forces and alternative service shall be provided by law.
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• The Churches and Congregations Act 2002 (doc file, in English, via the Estonian Ministry of the Interior) (local mirror),
• Non-Profit Organisations Act (sorry, no link available at the moment), see Non-Governmental Organisations in Estonia,
• "Possible step closer to resolution of Estonian Orthodox problem" (01/2002),
• "Discussion of registering Estonian Orthodox continues" (03/2002).

to www.kirchenrecht.net.