NordenBladet – Pollsters Kantar Emor have conducted a fresh survey of the most-supported candidates in each of Estonia’s twelve electoral districts, ahead of the March 5 Riigikogu election.
These are as follows:
Electoral district nr. 1 (Tallinn Haabersti, Põhja-Tallinn and Kristiine districts): Kristen Michal (Reform), Vadim Belobrovtsev (Center) and Signe Riisalo (Reform).
Electoral district nr. 2 (Tallinn City Center, Lasnamäe and Pirita districts): Mihhail Kõlvart (Center), Siim Kallas (Reform) and Leo Kunnas (EKRE).
Electoral district nr. 3 (Tallinn Mustamäe and Nõmme districts): Lauri Laats (Center), Martin Helme (EKRE) and Urmas Paet (Reform)
Electoral district nr. 4 (Harju- and Rapla counties): Kaja Kallas (Reform), Jüri Ratas (Center) and Henn Põlluaas (EKRE).
Electoral district nr. 5 (Hiiu-, Lääne- ja Saare counties): Kalle Laanet (Reform), Kalev Stoicescu (Eesti 200) and Helle-Moonika Helme (EKRE).
Electoral district nr. 6 (Lääne-Viru County): Hanno Pevkur (Reform), Anti Poolamets (EKRE) and Siret Kotka (Center).
Electoral district nr. 7 (Ida-Viru County): Yana Toom (Center), Maksim Iljin (Eesti 200) and Arvo Aller (EKRE).
Electoral district nr. 8 (Järva- and Viljandi counties): Jürgen Ligi (Reform), Jaak Madison (EKRE) and Helir-Valdor Seeder (Isamaa).
Electoral district nr. 9 (Jõgeva- and Tartu counties): Urmas Kruuse (Reform), Peeter Ernits (EKRE) and Aivar Kokk (Isamaa).
Electoral district nr. 10 (Tartu City): Urmas Klaas (Reform), Jaak Valge (EKRE) and Kristina Kallas (Eesti 200).
Electoral district nr. 11 (Võru-, Valga- ja Põlva counties): Liina Kersna (Reform), Anti Allas (SDE) and Igor Taro (Eesti 200).
Electoral district nr. 12 (Pärnu County): Annely Akkermann (Reform), Mart Helme (EKRE) and Toomas Kivimägi (Reform).
Election week begins on Monday, February 27 and ends on Election Day, Sunday, March 5.
In Riigikogu elections, you can also vote in Estonian embassies abroad. Voting in foreign embassies takes place on at least two days from February 18 to February 23.
E-voting can only be done on a computer. In order to identify yourself and vote, you need either an ID card and an ID card reader or a mobile ID and the accompanying PIN codes. E-voting can be done from Monday to Saturday during the election week. On Sunday, it is possible to cancel your e-vote by voting in the polling station.
NordenBladet – Nearly 25 tons of oranges arriving from Egypt were returned by the Estonian Agricultural and Food Board at the Muuga border crossing due to the detection of residues of plant protection products not recognized in the European Union.
The contaminated oranges were discovered during a routine inspection, where all high-risk non-animal products are checked at the border, including documents and samples taken with a certain frequency. The Navel oranges from Egypt exceeded the maximum limit for the residues of three plant protection products not recognized in the EU, namely cyfluthrin, omethoate, and dimethoate. As a result, the oranges were sent back to their country of origin.
Regina Pihlaka, the head of the border inspection department of the Agriculture and Food Board, explained that non-compliance was also detected in two non-animal products last year. In the case of rice, the documents did not meet the requirements, and bamboo plastic products intended for food contact were not allowed in the European Union. The products came from China and were destroyed. The agency continues to take samples to detect pesticide residues in food, allowing them to identify potentially hazardous products and remove them from sale or send them back at the border point.
NordenBladet – Since the publication of the so-called Nigerian letters, ETV´s television show “Pealtnägija” has made plenty of stories about all kinds of cynical schemes, how people are being robbed of money from a distant land. Unfortunately, this field of work does not end. Since the beginning of last year, police have received at least 50 official complaints from people who carelessly made intimate videos online and became victims of blackmail.
In Estonia, the number of people falling victim to blackmail and extortion due to intimate videos has been on the rise over the past year. This worrying trend has left many feeling vulnerable and violated.
Intimate videos, often recorded consensually between partners, are being used by perpetrators to demand money or other favors from their victims. The fear of these videos being leaked to family members, friends, or posted online can leave victims feeling helpless and trapped.
“It’s worth thinking about yourself in a real environment. First of all, if someone asks you to take off your pants after a few minutes of communication, has this ever happened in real life? You’re walking down the street and a girl walks up to you and says please take off your pants and show me something. This is never happen in real life and it won’t happen on the internet either,” warned Urmet Tambre, head of the Northern Prefecture Criminal Bureau.
According to Tõnu Tammer, head of cert.ee, which deals with cyber security incidents, extortions with intimate videos are unfortunately frequent.
This issue highlights the need for greater education and awareness around the dangers of sharing intimate content online. It is important for individuals to understand the potential risks and consequences before sharing such content, and to take necessary precautions to protect themselves and their privacy.
Featured image is illustrative: Unsplash
Read also: Finland sees increase of romance scams online
It has been estimated that roughly 3.8 million Euros have been lost in total due to online romance scams in Finland in the first half of 2022.
Presentations were made by Member of the Riigikogu, former Minister of Finance and Director General of the Tax Board Aivar Sõerd, entrepreneur Ruth Oltjer, and tax expert Hannes Udde.
Member of the Riigikogu Aivar Sõerd began his report with the latest Tax Competitiveness Index of OECD member states compiled by the US think tank Tax Foundation, where Estonia ranked at the top for the ninth year running. “Estonia’s tax code stands out positively with its simplicity and uniformity. The think tank also highlights that Estonia’s tax system supports economic growth and favours investments,” Sõerd said, adding that Estonia’s tax code was really not in need of a fundamental change or an overhaul. “However, no tax code is or will be absolutely perfect. All well-functioning tax systems need to be analysed regularly and reshaped in case of need to adjust to changes in the economic environment,” he explained.
Sõerd listed the weak points of the Estonian tax system, which included hiding the actual employment relationships under the cover of private limited companies but also the tax exempt income system from 2018 which made the tax exemption rate of tax payers dependent of their annual incomes. “The core element of this tax system is the income range of EUR 1,200–2,100, where the tax exempt income starts to drop abruptly, reaching zero at the EUR 2,100. I very much believe that this system does not suit Estonia because our salaries grow fast, incomes grow fast, and also the inflation has grown fast. Yet the EUR 1,200–2,100 range has been fixed in the law. This range, which has also been called “tax hump”, has remained unchanged for six years although as incomes grow, more people each year are moving into the higher taxation zone,” he said. “Take teachers’ salaries, for example. The average pay of a teacher rises to EUR 2,048 this year; but with this amount, the tax exempt amount is no longer EUR 654 but only EUR 38 because the tax hump formula swallows up most of it.”
The founder of the pharmaceutical company Chemi-Pharm Ruth Oltjer spoke on behalf of industrial companies. She described the situation as a roller-coaster ride where the key words are the war, rise in the prices of raw materials, interruption of the earlier supply chains, and subsidies paid to companies by European countries, which weakens the position of Estonian businesses compared to those from Germany or the UK, for example. Oltjer emphasised the importance of a healthy industrial sector, as 80–90 % of Estonia’s GDP rests on export, which is turn comes mostly from our processing industry companies.
“Estonian entrepreneurs see our taxes as fair, which is why businesses are not taken out of Estonia. It is easy to pay taxes, but also to levy these. As a result, the tax revenue remains in Estonia. I do not feel that the current tax system is in any way harmful for Estonia’s business community or the state as a whole,” she affirmed. Oltjer underlined the “Don’t play with taxes” principle which is fundamental in tax systems. “Changing taxes has such a profound impact on businesses that if this step is taken, it should be announced at least six months ahead, or even better – a year,” she said.
Estonia’s tax burden is 34%, or at the level of Central European countries. “I see no way of increasing this tax burden in any way,” she said, adding that she also struggled to see room for increasing the income tax of businesses. Oltjer also declared herself a proponent of eliminating fringe benefit taxes on sports and health expenses, and highlighted the boosting of research and development activities as particularly important.
The third presentation was made by tax expert Hannes Udde. During the debate, Reili Rand (Social Democratic Party), Jaak Aab (Centre Party), Heiki Hepner (Isamaa), Maris Lauri (Reform Party), Andres Sutt, Siim Kallas (Reform party), and Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor.
NordenBladet – On Thursday afternoon, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Estonia to meet with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur (Both Reform).
During his visit, Austin* is set to discuss support for Ukraine, defense cooperation between the U.S. and Estonia, as well as issues related to NATO.
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* Lloyd James Austin III (born August 8, 1953) is a retired United States Army four-star general who, since his appointment on January 22, 2021, has served as the 28th United States Secretary of Defense. He is the first African American to serve as the United States Secretary of Defense. Austin previously served as the 12th commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM) from 2013 to 2016.
Austin was the 33rd vice chief of staff of the Army from January 2012 to March 2013, and the last commanding general of United States Forces – Iraq Operation New Dawn, which ended in December 2011. In 2013, Austin was appointed as the first Black commander of CENTCOM by President Barack Obama. He retired from the armed services in 2016 and joined the boards of Raytheon Technologies, Nucor, Tenet Healthcare, and Auburn University. On December 7, 2020, he was nominated for defense secretary by then-President-elect Joe Biden. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on January 22, 2021, by a vote of 93–2.
During the Russian war against Ukraine, the U.S. sent tens of billions of dollars in missiles, ammunition and other items to Ukraine. Austin said that he wanted to see “Russia weakened to the degree that it can’t do the kinds of things that it has done in invading Ukraine”. The New York Times reported that U.S. military may be providing real-time battlefield targeting intelligence to Ukraine. Austin said he “does not” believe that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will result in a nuclear war.
Featured image: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin (Wikipedia/CC BY 2.0)
According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu condemns the Russian Federation’s ongoing military aggression and expresses deep sympathy to the Ukrainian people whose close ones have fallen in the battles with the powerful aggressor or suffered in the genocide committed against the peaceful population. “The bravery of the Ukrainian people obliges the countries respecting democratic values to unity and continued cooperation for the victory of Ukraine. The Riigikogu calls on the international community to support Ukraine militarily, politically and economically more decisively than before in order to achieve this goal more quickly,” the draft Statement says.
According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu supports the 10-point peace plan proposed by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in November, which will help restore peace in Europe and prevent recurrence of aggression. “In order to implement the peace plan, the international community must help Ukraine restore its territorial integrity, hold the leaders of state and senior military officials of the Russian Federation accountable for acts of aggression and war crimes, and ensure compensation of war damages caused to Ukraine. Riigikogu calls on the countries of the world to tighten sanctions against the Russian Federation and underlines that sanctions must remain in full force until the peace plan is fully implemented,” Members of the Riigikogu point out in the draft Statement.
According to the draft Statement, the Riigikogu supports the establishing of the centre for prosecution of Russia’s crime of aggression by the European Union in The Hague and calls on the countries of the world to contribute in every way to the activities of the centre and to continue with efforts to set up an international special tribunal.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu condemns the attempts to admit athletes representing the Russian and Belarusian regimes to international competitions and the Olympic Games in violation of the principles of the Olympic Charter. “Neither the International Olympic Committee nor anyone else can remain neutral in regard to the war launched and the genocidal crimes committed by Russia’s terrorist regime – covering up these crimes with the Olympic flag is amoral and unacceptable,” the draft Statement says.
In the draft Statement, the Riigikogu calls on the Member States of the European Union to support Ukraine in implementing the reforms necessary for achieving the membership status of the Union as soon as possible and expresses support to Ukraine’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization at the first opportunity. “Peace and security in Europe are possible only after Ukraine’s victory over the aggressor. Estonia will continue to assist the state and the people of Ukraine with all means unwaveringly and steadfastly until this victory is achieved,” the drafters say in the Statement.
Since the beginning of the last year, the Riigikogu has adopted four Statements and one Communication to condemn the activities of Russia and express support to Ukraine. On 18 January, the Riigikogu passed the Statement in Support of the Territorial Integrity of Ukraine, initiated by 28 members of the Riigikogu; on 23 February, the Statement on the Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, initiated by 86 members of the Riigikogu; on 14 March, the Communication to the Parliaments of the Member States of the European Union and NATO to ask for their support for imposing additional sanctions and for Ukraine’s official application for the status of an EU candidate country, initiated by 28 members of the Riigikogu; on 21 April, the Statement on the War Crimes and Genocide Committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine, initiated by 84 members of the Riigikogu, and on 18 October, the Statement on Condemning the Annexation of the Territory of Ukraine and Declaring Russia a Terrorist Regime, submitted by 85 members of the Riigikogu.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu will discuss the sending of the draft Statement submitted today for debate and voting in the plenary assembly tomorrow afternoon.
Report by Minister of the Minister of Justice Lea Danilson-Järg on the implementation of “The Fundamentals of Criminal Policy until 2030” outlined the progress made in the enforcement of the fundamentals of criminal policy 2020 in recent years.
Danilson-Järg began by stating that, for obvious reasons, crime and criminal policy had not been among the most topical issues in national terms in 2022, as the main concerns were the rising cost of living and the international security situation. One reason for this is that in criminal policy, the matters in Estonia are largely under control, unlike, for example, our northern neighbours, who are struggling with increasing violence and organised crime.
“Last year, the situation in Estonia was even slightly better than the year before – crime rates fell a little, youth crime decreased, as did the number of prisoners. People’s subjective sense of security did fall slightly, but this probably reflects the impact of the more general uncertain situation. A survey of the population conducted at the end of last year shows that 71% of people felt safe in the dark in their neighbourhood, which is 4% less than a year earlier,” the Minister of Justice said.
In her opinion, the war in Ukraine had an impact on the criminal policy sector. “In March, the Government adopted sanctions in connection with the attack on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and imposed a prohibition on joining or assisting Russian or Belarusian armed forces or armed units,” the Minister explained. She added that we also rapidly prepared a Bill that prohibited public presentation of hostile symbols. “By today, several people have already been convicted for supporting the aggressor’s forces, one of whom tried to buy drones for the Russian army. These drones were confiscated and handed over free of charge to the Ukrainian troops. This would not have been possible without the Bills that had been drafted,” the Minister noted.
According to Danilson-Järg, last year an important step had been taken towards prevention, so that we would have to deal less with the consequences. “Dealing with prevention is more complicated, more indefinite; punishing for consequences seems to be simpler. However, prevention saves lives and in the long run costs less for the state and society,” the Minister explained. She pointed out that to better coordinate the prevention of risky behaviour, three governmental committees that had been working side by side for years had been merged. These were the Child Protection Council, the Offence Prevention Council and the Government Committee on Drug Prevention. Not to mention the fact that these committees were made up of the same ministers, they all aimed to prevent risky behaviour. From 2022, they have bee merged into the Prevention Council. The Council advises the Government in agreeing on prevention priorities, but also plays an important role in finding a common ground for action.
One of the main objectives of criminal policy, in particular prisons and probation, is the re-socialisation of offenders. “Yes, also punishing, but we have to think what will become after punishment,” the Minister of Justice underlined.
Speaking of the IT sector, the Minister of Justice said that last year almost 25% fewer computer crimes had been registered than a year before. This is the first time the number of computer crimes falls in the last decade. First and foremost, computer-related fraud decreased, but there were also fewer other computer crimes. “Hopefully this is a sign that, in addition to the good work of the police and the prosecution, information campaigns have borne fruit and people are more careful and know how to avoid becoming victims of fraud,” Danilson-Järg said.
The Minister said in conclusion that 2022 had been a busy year, when a number of important steps had been taken towards the objectives set out in the Fundamentals of Criminal Policy.
“This year, in 2023, the Ministry of Justice has made it a priority to prevent domestic violence, which often combines physical and psychological violence. Making criminal procedure and the activities supporting it more effective and quicker is also a priority. I will introduce the analysis and proposals for that to the Government in the coming weeks,” the Minister said.
Text of the report of Minister of Justice Lea Danilson-Järg.
Maris Lauri (Reform Party) took the floor during the debate.
One Act was passed at the third reading
The Act on Amendments to the Code of Criminal Procedure (684 SE), initiated by the Government, will bring Estonian law into conformity with three legal acts regulating the cooperation in criminal procedure between European Union Member States. As to two of the legal acts, the shortcomings have been pointed out in infringement proceedings initiated by the European Commission.
The amendments concern mainly the European Arrest Warrant regulation. The Act specifies the provisions on the circumstances precluding or restricting surrender of persons, provides that, upon recognition of European arrest warrants, the rights of Estonian citizens are equal with the rights of citizens of the European Union residing in Estonia on the basis of the permanent right of residence, amends the provisions on the postponement of surrender and temporary transfer and provides the final time limit of 60 days for execution of European arrest warrants and 30 days upon extension of surrender. The Act also specifies how consent regarding surrender and consent regarding an extension of surrender and further surrender is asked and amends the bases for temporary postponement of surrender by adding humanitarian considerations. In current law, only danger to the life of the person has been narrowly set out as the basis.
In addition, an implementing provision will be provided for in the Code of Criminal Procedure in connection with two extradition treaties entered into for the European Union, that is, the agreement on the surrender procedure between the Member States of the EU and Iceland and Norway, and the trade and cooperation agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
75 members of the Riigikogu supported the passing of the Act and one was against.
Two Acts which had been declared to be a matter of confidence were passed at the second reading
The purpose of the Act on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Packaging Act and the Tobacco Act (665 SE), initiated by the Government, is to reduce the quantity of waste generated, to encourage reuse and to reduce littering as well as to transpose a relevant EU directive.
The amendments arising from the directive concern the restrictions on the placing on the market of single-use plastic products, marking, consumption reduction, extended producer responsibility obligations, consumer awareness raising, product design requirements and separate collection. The objective is to reduce the impact of single-use plastic products on the environment, in particular the aquatic environment, and on human health, as well as to promote the transition to a circular economy with innovative and sustainable business models, products and materials.
According to the Act, it will be prohibited to place on the market both single-use plastic products and oxo-degradable plastic products. The prohibition will cover cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, beverage stirrers, sticks for balloons and food and beverage containers and cups made of expanded polystyrene.
The Acts sets out how to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic food containers and cups for beverages by 2026. For example, from 1 January 2024, only reusable containers and cutlery will be allowed to be used to serve food and drink at public events.
The Acts specifies the requirements for separate collection of single-use plastic beverage bottles. By 2029, 90 per cent of such beverage bottles will have to be collected separately. Awareness raising measures will also be provided to incentivise responsible consumer behaviour and to reduce litter from single-use plastic products.
Minister of the Environment Madis Kallas presented a report.
During the debate, Erki Savisaar (Centre Party), Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Toomas Jürgenstein (Social Democratic Party), Jürgen Ligi (Reform Party), Andres Metsoja (Isamaa), Mihhail Stalnuhhin,PeeterErnits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor.
54 members of the Riigikogu supported passing of the Act and 20 were against.
The Act on Amendments to the State Secrets and Classified Information of Foreign States Act and the Public Information Act (410 SE), initiated by the Government, will ensure national security and foreign relations by protecting classified information from disclosure and becoming known to persons without the right to access.
The Act updates the requirements on processing classified information to establish regulation that follows the principles of modern information management and paper-free office and covers modern ways of information processing and information carriers. The requirements on processing of classified information currently in force have been drawn up mainly in regard to paper documents, therefore they cannot be applied to the full extent and reasonably to classified information processed electronically. On the basis of this, the rules on marking and destroying of classified information will be updated, bringing them into conformity with the requirements of the Archives Act. Marking of classified media with classification markings and the issues relating to check of the existing files will be regulated in more detail at the level of a Regulation of the Government of the Republic.
The Act extends the decision-making competence of the originator of information concerning premature declassification and extension of term of classification of information. The Government of the Republic as a collegial body will continue to decide on the extension of the term for the classification of such state secrets that are entered in a medium submitted to the Government of the Republic or government committee for adopting a decision.
Granting natural persons outside the services in the area of government of a ministry the right of access to a state secret classified as ‘restricted’ will also be made more flexible.
Minister of Justice Lea Danilson-Järg made a report.
During the debate, Taavi Aas (Centre Party), Henn Põlluaas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Mihhail Stalnuhhin took the floor.
54 members of the Riigikogu supported passing of the Act and 15 were against.
During the open microphone, Tarmo Kruusimäe took the floor.
Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)
In his report, the Chairman of the Committee will give an overview of the foreign policy activities of the Riigikogu during the last year, at the heart of which was Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. Sutt points out that the key objective of the work of the Foreign Affairs Committee over the past year has been strengthening the unity of the allies.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Reinsalu will deliver the annual address on foreign policy to the Riigikogu. His speech will focus on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and Estonia’s role in supporting Ukraine and influencing international policy.
The reports will be followed by questions to the speakers and comments by the representatives of political groups and members of the Riigikogu.
The sitting begins at 10 a.m., and will be streamed live on the Riigikogu home page and on Facebook as well as on ETV2.
The video recording of the sitting can be viewed on Riigikogu YouTubechannel.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)
NordenBladet – While their numbers still haven’t recovered to pre-pandemic levels, more than 3.5 million foreign tourists visited in Estonia in 2022, spending a combined €1.1 billion while here, according to a statistical release published by the Bank of Estonia on Thursday.
Foreign tourists spent around €1.1 billion in Estonia in 2022, up by €670 million on year, but still €340 million less than in the record, pre-pandemic year of 2019. In all, a total of 3.5 million foreign visitors visited Estonia last year, still down by some 40 percent compared with 2019, but up 168 percent on year.
Estonian residents, meanwhile, spent around €1 billion abroad, €240 million less than in 2019 but nearly half a billion more than in 2021. In all, Estonian residents made some 2.7 million trips abroad last year, a quarter fewer than in 2019 but 112 percent more than in 2021.
Sutt said that, at the meeting, the members of the Foreign Affairs Committee confirmed their support to the democratic movement and to all people who fight for democracy and human rights in Russia. “The Free Russia Foundation is doing excellent work to ensure that violations of human rights and international law in Russia will not go unnoticed. It is important to ensure that the voices of those who do not support the Russian regime and the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine are also heard,” he said.
According to him, the members of the Committee condemned at the meeting the suppression of freedom of speech and independent media in Russia. “We also consider it important that Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was imprisoned last spring, and other Russian political prisoners are released and that the organisers of the repressions are brought to justice,” Sutt added.
Free Russia Foundation was founded in 2014. It is an international organization supporting civil society and democratic development in Russia. Founder of the Foundation Natalia Arno, workers of the Foundation Grigory Frolov and Nikolai Artemenko and Project Manager and translator Yevgenia Kara-Murza participated in the meeting with the Foreign Affairs of the Riigikogu. Yesterday, Yevgenia Kara-Murza accepted the Cross of Merit of the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs awarded to her husband, Russian political prisoner Vladimir Kara-Murza for his consistent and long-time work in standing for human rights and civil liberties in Russia.
In April last year, the chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of 18 national parliaments and the European Parliament issued a Joint Statement in which they called on Russia’s authorities to immediately release Vladimir Kara-Murza.
