NordenBladet – The promised trading period has arrived for LHV managers and insiders. During the week, three members of LHV Group’s management board have sold the bank’s shares (LHV1T.TL), according to the register of persons related to stock exchange issuers. Board members Indrek Nuumele, Andres Kitter and Martti Singi have sold a large amount of shares.
Behind the big puts is the desire to free up cash for options.
Erki Kilu, who currently heads the UK branch of LHV, sold LHV shares for the largest sums, Äripäev reports. Kilu sold 400,000 shares at an average price of 3.77 euros per share, or a little more than 1.5 million euros in total. Kilu recognized that there were two things behind the large sales amount, firstly, to free up money for options and secondly, the CEO of LHV’s UK branch moved to London this year and needed free money to set up there.
On Friday, LHV announced to the stock exchange the size of the dividend, which had decreased compared to the previous year. Last year, 0.21 euros were paid out, this year it is planned to pay 0.19 euros per share.
Opening photo: LHV Bank, Tallinn (NordenBladet) Source: NordenBladet.ee
Ratas described our bilateral relations with Germany as very important in the turbulent world. “Estonia greatly appreciates your presence in air policing, as well as your work as the framework nation for the NATO battlegroup in Lithuania,” Ratas emphasised. He acknowledged the efforts of the German government and parliament in offering continuous support to Ukraine. “Emergency military aid must continue,” Ratas stressed.
He underlined the importance of the close cooperation between the two countries in the parliamentary framework.
The guests expressed their eagerness to be present at the flag hoisting on Toompea on 24 February, when Estonia is celebrating its 105th anniversary. Ratas evoked the second event that this day symbolised in connection with the aggression in Ukraine.
The Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Andres Sutt said that keeping the allied unity plays a key role in supporting Ukraine. “Ukraine must win the war and the perpetrators of crimes of aggression and war must stand trial,” Sutt said. “It is in the interests of the whole free world that concrete agreements are reached at the NATO Vilnius summit on Ukraine’s accession path to NATO membership.”
The parties discussed the wider impacts of this war of aggression and concluded that the war against Ukraine was a war against us all. “Interparliamentary relations play a crucial role in ensuring that the allied space remains strong,” underlined Sutt who is also the Chair of the Estonia-Germany Parliamentary Group.
The Germany-Baltic Friendship Group of the German Bundestag includes Alexander Graf Lambsdorff (Free Democratic Party), Bettina Hagedorn (Social Democratic Party), Markus Grübel (Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union in Bavaria), Hanna Steinmüller (Alliance 90/The Greens), and Gereon Bollmann (Alternative for Germany).
85 members of the Riigikogu supported the adopting of the Statement.
In the 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 have 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 by military, political, and economic means in a more decisive manner to achieve this goal more quickly,” the Statement says.
According to the 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, bring the leaders of state and senior military officials of the Russian Federation to justice for acts of aggression and war crimes, and ensure the compensation of war damages caused to Ukraine,” the Statement of the Riigikogu says, and calls on countries around the world to strengthen the sanctions against the Russian Federation and underlines that sanctions must remain in full force until the peace plan is fully implemented.
The Riigikogu supports the establishment of a centre for investigating 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 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 immoral and unacceptable,” the Statement says.
The Riigikogu calls on the Member States of the European Union to support Ukraine in carrying out 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 by all means available with resolute and steadfast commitment until this victory is achieved,” the Riigikogu confirms in the Statement.
Since the beginning of the last year, the Riigikogu has adopted altogether five 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.
Kaljulaid pointed out that due to the current security environment, it was necessary to increase defence investments in order to ensure having troops, military capabilities and reserves of sufficient readiness. “Estonia is about to adopt the National Security Concept of Estonia, which sets a target that defence spending must form at least three per cent of GDP,” the Chairman of the Committee said. “The objective should be that greater defence spending and enhancing collective defence will be agreed upon at the NATO Summit in Vilnius. The defence spending of NATO allies should be at least 2.5 per cent of GDP.”
Both sides confirmed their readiness to continue supporting Ukraine in every way. “Ukraine’s victory greatly depends on our support. French military assistance to Ukraine has been an example to other countries. We can support Ukraine even more also by putting economic pressure on Russia so that it would not be possible for the aggressor to gather strength for new attacks,” Kaljulaid said. “Only defeat on the battlefield will make Russia realise that there is no point in waging war.”
Kaljulaid thanked his French counterparts for France’s contribution to ensuring the security of Estonia and the Baltic States. France has sent its ground forces unit to Tapa, is participating in NATO’s Baltic air policing and is contributing to the establishing of the Estonian division.
Chairman of the National Defence Committee of the Riigikogu Raimond Kaljulaid and Deputy Chairman of the Committee Leo Kunnas participated in the meeting with Chairman of the National Defence and the Armed Forces Committee of the French National Assembly Thomas Gassilloud, Deputy Chairman of the Committee Jean-Louis Thiériot and member of the Committee Pierrick Berteloot. Ambassador of France in Estonia Eric Lamouroux also attended the meeting.
“We strongly condemn the Khojaly massacre on the night of 25–26 February 1992, when more than 600 innocent civilians, including many children, women and the elderly, were killed. The perpetrators of this mass murder must be brought to justice,” the members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group write in the joint statement.
“We believe that that all countries of the region have the right to sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as inviolability of internationally recognised borders. We acknowledge the efforts of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the reconstruction of the region and call on the different communities to work closely together to achieve lasting peace and integration,” they added.
The Chairman of the Estonia-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group is Sven Sester, Mihhail Korb is the Deputy Chairman, and Igor Kravtšenko, Aadu Must, Heljo Pikhof, Erki Savisaar, Aivar Sõerd and Raivo Tamm are members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group. Parliamentary friendship groups help the Members of the Riigikogu communicate with other national parliaments, carry out Estonia’s foreign policy, and promote our country around the world.
NordenBladet – The 73rd Berlin International Film Festival’s European Film Market is set to return as an in-person event in 2023, with Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania being the focus of the “Countries in Focus” program.
It is the first time that several countries have joined forces since the program’s inception in 2017. The “Baltic Countries in Focus” program aims to provide a platform for the three countries to showcase their filmmaking, network with producers, distributors, and financiers, and present their extensive film history, recent films, and media content. The initiative was signed by Edith Sepp, CEO of the Estonian Film Institute, Laimonas Ubavičius, Director of the Lithuanian Film Centre, and Inga Blese, Deputy Director of the National Film Centre of Latvia, among other officials.
“In the history of the Berlinale, films from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have consistently added interesting perspectives to the Berlinale programme. The three Baltic countries have consolidated their individual strengths by joining forces and thus have set a great example in Europe and beyond. Especially in times of increased collaboration, artists and industry professionals alike can learn from the innovative and collaborative Baltic approaches to culture,” says Mariette Rissenbeek, Executive Director of the Berlinale.
The event will take place from February 16 to 22, 2023, during the European Film Market of the Berlin International Film Festival.
NordenBladet – Estonia’s electoral system aims to provide fair representation for all political parties and ensure a diverse range of voices in the parliament. Estonia goes to the polls on March 5, 2023, to elect the 101 members of the XV composition of the country’s unicameral legislature, the Riigikogu. Riigikogu elections are held every four years, in early March.
The Estonian Riigikogu’s electoral system is a complex process that requires political parties to reach a minimum threshold of votes to gain representation in the parliament. Estonia’s unicameral parliament has 101 seats, which are allocated based on the proportion of votes that each political party receives. The process involves two types of elections: constituency and proportional representation.
In the first stage of the election, voters choose their preferred candidate from their constituency, of which there are 12. The candidates with the most votes from each constituency will then advance to the next stage, while the others will be eliminated. This results in 101 candidates for the next stage.
The second stage is a proportional representation election, where political parties submit a list of candidates to fill the remaining seats in parliament. In this stage, each party’s total votes are divided by the number of seats they received in the constituency election, plus one. This number is then used to determine the proportion of seats the party will receive in the parliament.
Parties must receive at least 5% of the vote in the proportional representation election or win a seat in one of the constituencies to gain representation in the Riigikogu. If a party fails to reach this threshold, they will not receive any seats in parliament.
NordenBladet – Tallinn City Government is seeking opinions from locals about a proposal to create a new cycle path that will link the seafront with Kadriorg Park.
The proposed cycling path will connect Reidi tee with J. Poska tänav and will be built adjacent to the existing cycling path. The plan includes constructing a 3-meter-wide asphalt-paved cycle lane and a 2.5-meter-wide paved footpath, which will be designed to match the park-like setting of the area and accommodate easy access for scooters and wheelchairs. In addition, new street lighting and vegetation will be added to the path.
Deputy Mayor Vladimir Svet emphasized the need for a new solution to connect Kadriorg Park with Reidi tee and J. Poska Street. The area currently has cycling paths and footpaths, which were created during the redevelopment, and are convenient for cycling. The new cycle path will provide a natural and safe corridor for cyclists separated from other road users.
The design of the new cycle path is available for consultation and suggestions until March 2 on the Tallinn website: https://www.tallinn.ee/et/poska-reidi
NordenBladet – Margus Laidre, the former Estonian Ambassador to Russia, who left Moscow at Russia’s request, has spoken about the challenges of diplomacy and information gathering without a high representative in Moscow.
Margus Laidre notes that a higher-ranked diplomat would have greater access to specific events, meetings, and people. He points out that although the United States had a deputy ambassador in Moscow for a few months, his access was limited. Laidre also emphasizes that it is important to synthesize information from both inside and outside sources to form a comprehensive picture. Laidre acknowledges that although none of the Baltic republics have an ambassador in Moscow, the Estonian Embassy has a capable temporary deputy, Jana Vanamölder, who is familiar with Russia and will continue to operate effectively.
Commenting on the Russian people’s attitude to the war in Ukraine, Laidre notes that they can adapt to difficult circumstances, but he also observes occasional bursts of anxiety, limited store selection, and rising costs of living in Moscow. He adds that Russians are reluctant to discuss the war for both psychological reasons and fear of punishment, and that they follow current events and use VPNs to circumvent country-specific internet restrictions.
Laidre also notes that Western sanctions are having an impact on Russia, but it takes time to show results. Although there are currently no signs of a power vacuum in Moscow, Laidre points out that Russia’s history has demonstrated events can begin quickly and that it is difficult to predict when a tipping point will occur. Regarding the possibility of Russian athletes being banned from participating in the Paris Summer Olympics, Laidre believes that it would have an effect on Russia, given the importance of sport in Russian politics.
Featured image: YouTube
Source: The article is referenced from ERR. Read the original article titled “Without ambassador it will be harder to get information from Moscow” here
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.
