Estonia bans Russian Orthodox priest over security concerns

Estonian authorities have banned Roman Kolesnikov, a priest of the Russian Orthodox Church, from entering the country, citing concerns over national security.

The decision was made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs on January 2, according to the Russian-language service of the Estonian news outlet Postimees. Kolesnikov had begun serving in the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church in the fall of 2025, Caliber.Az reports via ERR. 

Kristian Pärt, head of the ministry’s internal security department, said the ban was imposed because Kolesnikov’s activities were deemed to support Russia’s aggressive foreign policy and the ideology of the so-called “Russian world” (Russkiy Mir), which Estonian authorities say is used to justify war and violence.

The ministry also stated that structures of the Russian Orthodox Church are systematically exploited by Russian intelligence services to undermine the security of other countries.

Kolesnikov is the third clergyman to be barred from entering Estonia for security-related reasons within the past year.

The Estonian Christian Orthodox Church, formerly known as the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, has not yet issued a substantive comment on the decision.

By Sabina Mammadli