Before the plenary sitting of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia), leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya addressed the members of the Riigikogu. She said that support for Ukraine was also help for free Belarus, nothing would be a greater sanction for Putin than Free Belarus and without a free Belarus, there would be no safe Ukraine and no security in Europe.
“It is an honour for me to speak on behalf of Belarusians, who have been fighting for their freedom, independence and European future for more than two years,” Tsikhanouskaya said. She thanked Estonians for their support and help, and asked for Estonia’s support in international organisations.
“My country is actually under occupation, held hostage by two bloodthirsty dictators,” she emphasised. “Despite the unprecedented terror, Belarusians have continued their struggle for more than two years. Many thousands paid with their freedom, and some with their lives. By their struggle, Belarusians proved that they deserve to live in a democratic country.”
Tsikhanouskaya pointed out that today the fate of Belarus was strongly connected with the fate of Ukraine. She noted that after the start of the war, one and a half thousand people signed up as volunteers and took part in the counteroffensive of the Ukrainian army. The Russians have so far failed to involve the Belarusian military in the war – this is evidence of strong public resistance. According to her, more than 90% of Belarusians are against joining the war, despite the propaganda.
The leader of the Belarus opposition encouraged to continue supporting Ukraine, saying that support for Ukraine was help for free Belarus. “Nothing will be a greater sanction for Putin than Free Belarus,” Tsikhanouskaya said. She added that without a free Belarus, there would be no safe Ukraine and no security in Europe. She called on continuing sanctions against Russia and Belarus.
Tsikhanouskaya underlined that Lukashenka must bear responsibility for the hijacking of the Ryanair plane, the artificial migration crisis, and crimes against humanity, and an international tribunal should be established against Lukashenka and Putin. “We need to unite again to free Europe from tyrants.”
Before addressing the members of the Riigikogu, Tsikhanouskaya met with President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, who assured the leader of the Belarusian democratic opposition of Estonia’s full support for the aspirations of the people of Belarus for a free and democratic future.
Tsikhanouskaya also had meetings with Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu. Tomorrow, Tsikhanouskaya will meet with President Alar Karis and the Belarusian Political Prisoners and Democracy Support Group of the Riigikogu.
Speech before the Riigikoguin Estonian(verbatim record). Photosof the meetings and the Session Hall of the Riigikogu (Erik Peinar, Chancellery of the Riigikogu) Video recording of the address can be viewed on theFacebookandYouTubechannels of the Riigikogu.
Leader of the Belarus democratic opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will address the Riigikogu before the plenary sitting today.
In the Riigikogu, Tsikhanouskaya will meet the President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas who affirms that Estonia supports the striving of the Belarus people towards a free and democratic future. “Tireless efforts to increase awareness around the world about the repressions in Belarus can only be admired,” the President said. He stated that the Belarus people want to see a change in their country. “As soon as Belarus becomes a free and democratic country, the current regime must assume responsibility for its ruthless breaches of human rights,” Ratas emphasised.
Tsikhanouskaya will also meet the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson and the Belarusian Political Prisoners and Democracy Support Group. During her visit, meetings are also planned with President Alar Karis and Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu.
The address can be followed live at 3 p.m. on the Riigikogu YouTube channel, Facebook, or webpage, and the video recording will be available later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.
The Riigikogu debated “The Rescue Board’s civil protection plan – problems, solutions and people” as a matter of significant national importance at the initiative of the Legal Affairs Committee.
The Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee Heljo Pikhof said in her speech that civil protection in a military context is based on threat awareness, need to take shelter, and cooperation between the Defence Forces, allies, and rescue services.
Pikhof pointed out that nothing had been done in Estonia regarding the maintenance and development of the shelter system for the last 30 years and that this has been a huge mistake. “The war in Ukraine shows that residential buildings are not hit by random bombs going off course but that terrorising and killing people has become a military objective in itself for Russia. We have to give credit to our Northern neighbours for their perceptiveness and not letting their guard down during the years of peace. Finland has maintained and developed their shelter system and the infrastructure that can be used for sheltering in case of need. Underground gyms, the metro – all this can be used in an emergency. People can take shelter there from bombs, as has also been done in Kyiv and Kharkiv. Our future investment decisions should probably involve making sure that the constructions could be used to protect our own people,” Pikhof said.
To ensure the coping of the population during crises, we need to establish a threat alert system that covers the whole dense population area of Estonia and includes alternative solutions; plan and ensure preparedness for a broad evacuation in case of need; support the renovation of shelters; clearly mark the shelters in larger cities; increase urban search and rescue, mine clearing, and first aid capabilities of the Rescue Board; enhance the consistency of the rescue network in crisis situations and its capacity to accept international aid; empower local governments in coping with crises, and increase public awareness and readiness.
At the legislation level, the Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee sees a need to solve the challenges linked to sheltering and evacuation, while the Riigikogu should initiate a discussion on building permanent and temporary shelters. Other issues that need to be clarified include the division of tasks between agencies and local governments in organising civil protection, threat alerts, and risk and crisis communications. “It is also crucial to involve volunteers into crisis resolution, and give the volunteers the necessary rights, social guarantees, and of course skills,” Pikhof stated.
The Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets assured in his speech that our defence budget has always been exemplary but that we needed to increase our contributions into civil protection. “The war has taught us a clear lesson about the importance of the readiness of the population, our defence options, defence will, and the ability to cope in crises,” the Minister said.
Läänemets noted that Estonia’s security and resilience needed to be extended and diversified because our aggressive neighbour was not attacking only military targets, and similarly – natural disasters could happen any time. This is why evacuation, sheltering, building stockpiles, threat alerts, and other activities that ensure civil protection are crucial for Estonia in the near future. The Minister stressed that civil protection required long-term planning and funding, and that a systematic and sustainable development could only be based on cross-party agreement.
The Minister explained that the plans for using the extraordinary funds allocated for civil protection in March included creating a threat alert system, installing 80 sirens in 16 larger towns, organising exercises and training to the population and local governments, clearly marking shelters in large cities, building basic stockpiles for extensive evacuation, supporting the crisis preparedness of local governments, and increasing the consistent functioning and stocks of Rescue Board commandos. “We are also developing guidelines for adapting private property, such as basements, into suitable collections points for people. There is also a plan to allocate a total of six million euros next year for involving national security volunteers into comprehensive national defence as well as supporting communities and non-governmental organisations,” Läänemets explained.
The Minister of the Interior suggested ensuring steady and long-term annual investments into civil protection to the extent of at least 0.5 percent of the GDP, i.e. nearly EUR 140 million. “Next to the nearly one billion euros in the military defence budget, this would be an elementary investment to ensure that the security, readiness, and coping of the Estonian population would be guaranteed in the times of crisis,” Läänements stressed.
Director General of the Rescue Board Kuno Tammearu defined the objective for shaping civil protection as making sure that the Estonian residents survived any crisis. “Civil protection is a crucial extension of military national defence, and their combined impact is what shapes the comprehensive national defence. It’s a synergy that is generated and that grows out of common problems, goals, solutions, and actions. The experience of the war in Ukraine shows us the importance of providing equal protection for the population and for those who aid them.”
“By promoting people’s readiness, we will also do better as a country in civil crises, such as natural disasters or manmade accidents. Finland serves as an excellent role model for us. But compared to their diligence in handling civil protection over decades, and considering the current security situation, we really need to rush. This is why we must be smart, wise, and as resource efficient as possible when building up our civil protection,” he said.
Everyone should be asking what they could do to prepare for crises as individuals, communities, businesses, or local governments. “Each one of us needs to imagine coping without electricity, water, sewage, internet, or communications, and know where we could seek shelter,” he emphasised. Tammearu added that the Rescue Board studies have shown that 15 % of Estonia’s population was prepared for crises, but this number should be 70 %, with local governments and the state supporting the other 30 % who are not capable of ensuring their preparedness themselves due to their age of social situation. For this purpose, we need to improve people’s awareness and change their behaviour much more actively by means of training programmes, campaigns, and information materials.
Tammearu said that the EUR 46 million that has been allocated for enhancing civil protection will be used by the Rescue Board to build the foundation for civil protection and carry out the key solutions for population security. “The first important point is alerting people of a threat. The people under threat receive a text, or are alerted via radio or television, but also by a siren,” he said. “Together with local governments we will be establishing a network of sirens in 22 Estonian towns. By the end of this year, we will have completed a location based threat alarm system. We are also developing the Women’s Home Defence app Ole valmis! which give people information, advice, and assistance in preparing for and navigating various situations. The relevant brochure has been distributed to people’s mailboxes with guidelines to follow in situations where the primary services no longer function.”
The head of the Rescue Board also gave an overview of designing sheltering and evacuation facilities. He added that a national evacuation exercise would be carried out next year. Tammearu also emphasised that strategic objectives and permanent funding must be set up for civil protection.
The Head of the Internal Security Institute of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences Erkki Koort admitted that our environment is rife with unpredictability and processes we cannot control, and there is no resolution to the situation on the horizon. “We are living in a perfect storm – the pandemic, Russia’s military attack against Ukraine, migration, economic and energy instability, which has been peppered recently with attacks against objects of infrastructure. Because this is out of our control and we cannot influence the sources of processes, we need to focus on preventing or alleviating any negative consequences,” he said.
Koort added that the field of internal security has never been systematically developed or funded with military crises in mind. “Internal security has always prepared for national defence during the next budgetary period,” he said. “Estonia has talked a lot about the change in security situation and has reproached other countries for ignoring security threats. In actual fact, we only just starting to address several issues in Estonia as well, such as cooling water for Narva power plants, or medium-range air defence,” Koort admitted. He stressed that we always need to learn the lessons of past crises but avoid the trap of preparing for the war that has already passed.
Koort emphasised that a country must deal with its civil protection itself and not wait for help from other countries. Here, an individual themselves have a role to play in addition to the local government and the Riigikogu. “Personal stockpiles can be very successfully built up in six months. We can help our family members, friends, and acquaintances as well. Next time you are picking a present for someone, choose something that would really help them to cope, like a generator or a crisis package, instead of cheap and useless Chinese stuff,” Koort suggested.
He emphasised that we also needed to make sure the local governments knew how they would build up the crisis stockpiles for their residents, or that the Riigikogu asked during legislative proceedings whether the provisions of a draft act would help in coping with the crisis.
The presenters suggested reading the code of conduct for crisis situations on the web page olevalmis.ee, and downloading the Ole valmis! app.
During the debate, Leo Kunnas (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Toomas Jürgenstein (Social Democratic Party), Mati Raidma (Reform Party), Marek Jürgenson (Centre Party), and Heiki Hepner (Isamaa) took the floor on behalf of their factions. Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa), Anti Poolamets (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Marko Šorin (Centre Party), and Hele Everaus (Reform Party) also took the floor.
Today and tomorrow, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson participates in the visit of the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of the Baltic States to Georgia.
Mihkelson said that the aim of the visit was to get a detailed insight into the political situation in Georgia and recent developments during the meetings in Tbilisi. International security situation and supporting Ukraine in the war of aggression started by Russia will also be discussed.
During the visit, the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Baltic States will meet with Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Shalva Papuashvili as well as with representatives of the Foreign Relations Committee, the Defence and Security Committee and the Committee on European Integration, the Friendship Groups with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and with representatives of the opposition parties. The Chairs of the Committees will also have meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs Ilia Darchiashvili, Public Defender of Georgia Nino Lomjaria and representatives of the European Union observation mission in Georgia.
Besides Mihkelson, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima (Parliament) of the Republic of Latvia Rihards Kols and Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Seimas (Parliament) of the Republic of Lithuania Laima Andrikienė participate in the visit.
The Bill intended to establish an opportunity for micro and small enterprises to buy electrical energy as a universal service from this November passed the second reading in the Riigikogu today. The Riigikogu also passed the Statement on condemning the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declaring Russia a terrorist regime.
The Riigikogu passed with 88 votes in favour the Statement of the Riigikogu “On Condemning the Annexation of the Territory of Ukraine and Declaring Russia a Terrorist Regime” (717 AE) submitted by 85 members of the Riigikogu.
In the Statement, the Riigikogu strongly condemns the military actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of the territories conquered during the aggression and declares that Estonia will never recognise the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine through aggressions and sham referendums. “Violation of law can never create law. Putin’s regime with its threats of nuclear attack has turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and in the whole world,” the Statement reads.
Supporting the appeal of the Parliament of Ukraine to countries and international organisations, the Riigikogu declares Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a country that supports terrorism, whose actions we must confront together.
In the Statement, the Riigikogu calls on the European Union and NATO Member States to decisively increase military aid to Ukraine. It will also be necessary to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support the country in its post-war reconstruction. “Estonia supports the people, the state, and the army of Ukraine in its war with the aggressor with all the means available and believes in the victory of Ukraine as this is the only way to restore peace in Europe,” the Statement reads. This is the fourth Statement that the Riigikogu has made this year to condemn Russia’s actions and to express support to Ukraine.
During the debate, Mihhail Lotman from Faction Isamaa, Eerik-Niiles Kross from the Reform Party Faction, Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski from the Centre Party Faction, Jaak Juske from the Social Democratic Party Faction and Martin Helme from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction took the floor.
The Bill on Amendments to the Electricity Market Act (680 SE),initiated by the Economic Affairs Committee, passed the second reading at the sitting. It is intended to establish an opportunity for micro and small enterprises to buy electrical energy from a seller of electricity at the price regulated by the Competition Authority, that is, as a universal service from this November to the end of 2023. The Bill is intended to prevent the loss of competitiveness of the enterprises in the target group, and termination of their activities.
According to the Bill, the universal service will be available for consumption to microenterprises, that is, enterprises which employ fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 2 million, and small enterprises, that is, enterprises which employ fewer than 50 persons and whose annual turnover and/or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 10 million.
According to the Bill, the possibility to buy electricity as a universal service will also extend to sole proprietors, foundations and non-profit organisations who consume energy to the extent of up to one gigawatt hour in a year. When the consumption volume is used up, the opportunity to buy the universal service will end, and not later than within 10 days after that the seller of electricity will make a proposal to enter into a new electricity contract. If the consumer refuses this and does not enter into a new electricity contract or choose another seller of electricity, the seller of electricity will sell electricity to the consumer at the hourly price on the electricity exchange.
Household consumers will be transferred to the universal service automatically if they do not wish to refuse the offer. However, according to the Bill, enterprises will have to inform the seller of electricity of their wish to transfer to the universal service or will have to express their consent to an offer by the seller.
During the debate, Rene Kokk from the Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction, Kristen Michal from the Reform Party Faction, Aivar Kokk from Faction Isamaa and Jaak Aab from the Centre Party Faction took the floor.
Due to the end of its working hours, the Riigikogu did not deliberate today the Bill on Amendments to the Code of Civil Procedure and Other Acts (implementation of the Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1111 on jurisdiction, the recognition and enforcement of decisions in matrimonial matters and the matters of parental responsibility, and on international child abduction (recast)) (622 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic (622 SE), initiated by the Government. The second reading of this Bill is deferred to the agenda for Wednesday’s sitting.
The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of four Bills.
According to the State Budget for 2023 Bill (708 SE), initiated by the Government, the state budget will focus on ensuring Estonia’s security and the coping of people and businesses in the crises caused by Russia’s large-scale war.
The total volume of the state budget revenue will be 15.57 billion euro in 2023. Compared to the budget adopted in autumn 2021, budget revenues will grow by 2.19 billion euro or 16.4 per cent. The total volume of expenditure will be 16.79 billion euro in 2023, increasing by 2.59 billion euro or 18 per cent compared to 2022. The state will make investments in the amount of 775 million euro, which will be approximately 30 million euro more than this year.
According to the proposal submitted to the parliament, in 2023, defence expenditure in Estonia will for the first time exceed the one-billion-euro limit, that is 2.9 per cent of GDP. In 2024, Estonia’s defence spending level will exceed three per cent of GDP.
The Bill provides for a support of 166 million euro to energy efficiency and renewable energy investments and housing. The plan for speeding up renewable energy will receive additional funding. An automatic subsidy for domestic heating, electricity as well as gas bills will be applied to household consumers from 1 October to the end of March, which will take around 200 million euro from the budget in terms of the whole heating season. The option of the universal service will extend to micro and small enterprises. The liquidity measures will extend to large enterprises to mitigate the impact of the rise in energy prices.
The state budget provides that the minimum remuneration rate for teachers will rise from 1412 euro to 1749 euro or by 23.9 per cent in 2023, the minimum salary of rescue workers will rise from 1190 euro to 1620 euro or by 36 per cent and the minimum salary of police officers will rise from 1575 euro to 1849 euro or by 17 per cent.
Additional 41.5 million euro will be allocated to higher education in 2023 and funding will be increased by an additional 15 per cent in each subsequent year.
The tax burden for 2023 will amount to 33.3 per cent of GDP which will be 0.6 per cent higher than in 2022.
During the debate, representatives of factions Ivari Padar (Social Democratic Party), Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Priit Sibul (Isamaa), Mart Võrklaev (Reform Party) and Jaak Aab (Centre Party) took the floor and presented their positions and opinions on the Bill on next year’s state budget.
The Estonian Centre Party Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. The result of voting: 19 votes in favour and 48 against. The motion was not supported. The first reading was concluded. The deadline for submission of motions to amend was set as 31 October.
The Bill on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act and the Act on Amendments to the Alcohol, Tobacco, Fuel and Electricity Excise Duty Act (705 SE), initiated by the Government, will postpone by one year the rises in excise duties that were due in 2023–2026. This way, the pre-crisis level for excise duty rates will be achieved in 2027.
An amendment lowered the excise duties for electricity and certain fuels for two years from 1 May 2020 in order to mitigate the impact that the crisis due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus would have for fuel consumers, and to facilitate economic subsistence. An Act adopted at the end of 2021 provided for a gradual four-year restoration of the excise duties for fuel and electricity to the pre-crisis level starting from 1 May 2023.
As a result of the Bill, the agricultural sector and oil shale mines will be able to use diesel fuel for specific purposes until 30 April 2024 at the minimum rate of the European Union which is 21 euro per 1000 litres. From 1 May 2024, the rate of excise duty on diesel fuel for specific purposes will rise to 107 euro per 1000 litres for the agricultural sector and oil shale mines will be able to use only diesel fuel taxed at the standard rate.
During the debate, Aivar Sõerd (Reform Party) and Aivar Kokk (Isamaa) took the floor.
Under the Bill on Amendments to the Income Tax Act (706 SE), initiated by the Government, the income exempt from income tax will be increased from 500 euro to 654 euro per month. Around 368,000 people or 56 per cent of working-age people will benefit from the amendment. People who earn 654–1200 euro per month will gain most, that is, 370 euro per year, from the amendment of the minimum rate for tax-exempt income.
The amendment will not concern the people receiving the old-age pension. The tax-exempt income to the extent of the average old age pension will begin to apply to them from 1 January of the new year and the regressive tax-exempt income system will not apply to their income. The average old-age pension is projected to be 704 euro in 2023.
The expenditure of the amendment in the state budget will be 82 million euro in 2023, 80 million in 2024, 77 million in 2025 and 74 million in 2026.
The Bill will extend the opportunity for legal persons to make donations and gifts free of income tax for maintaining the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine as well as for giving and organising humanitarian aid. It will be possible to make donations free of income tax until the end of next year to NPO Estonian Refugee Council, NPO Mondo, the Ukrainian Cultural Centre, the National Defence Promotion Foundation, the Estonian Red Cross, the Estonian Voluntary Rescue Association and Tallinn Old Town Rotary Club.
During the debate, Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), Maris Lauri (Reform Party) and Reili Rand (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.
The Bill on Amendments to the Funded Pensions Act (707 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, will accelerate the reimbursement of the 4% contributions to the funded pension not made during the suspension of contributions from 1 July 2020 to 31 August 2021, which initially was to take place in January of 2023 and 2024 for those who had decided to remain in the pension scheme. Instead of the two years as initially planned, the contributions will be reimbursed to the full extent in one year, in January 2023.
The amounts to be reimbursed will be calculated according to the actual contributions but their final amount will become clear at the beginning of January 2023 when the average return of mandatory pension funds in the period from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2022 will be known. If the average return is positive, the amounts reimbursed to members of pension schemes will be increased in proportion to this. The amounts to be reimbursed will be allocated in January 2023 and additional pension fund units will be issued to members of pension schemes on account of this.
According to the projection, in 2023, around 276 million euro will be spent on the reimbursement, 248 million euro of which will account for the principal amount and 28 million euro will account for interest.
During the debate, Andres Sutt (Reform Party) and Aivar Kokk (Isamaa) took the floor.
Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Riina Sikkut did not have to reply to the interpellation concerning the LNG carrier to be moored in Finland because the interpellators had withdrawn their interpellation.
Today, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) adopted with 88 votes a Statement in which it condemned the annexation of the territories of Ukraine and declared Russia a terrorist regime.
In the Statement, the Riigikogu strongly condemns the military actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and the illegal annexation of the territories conquered during the aggression and declares that Estonia will never recognise the violation of the territorial integrity of Ukraine through aggressions and sham referendums. “Violation of law can never create law. Putin’s regime with its threats of nuclear attack has turned Russia into the biggest danger to peace both in Europe and in the whole world,” says the Statement, which was submitted by 85 members of the Riigikogu.
The Riigikogu supports the investigations initiated by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court to identify the crimes committed on the territory of Ukraine and considers it necessary to prosecute those guilty of crimes of aggression in an international special tribunal.
“Supporting the appeal of the Parliament of Ukraine to countries and international organisations, the Riigikogu declares Russia a terrorist regime and the Russian Federation a country that supports terrorism, whose actions we must confront together. The Riigikogu calls on the international community to adopt similar declarations,” the Statement reads.
In the Statement, the Riigikogu also condemns the using of armed groups established with the support of the authorities of the Russian Federation, such as the Wagner Group, in the aggression, and considers it necessary to declare the armed forces of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics established by the Russian Federation as well as the Wagner private military company as terrorist organisations.
Furthermore, the Statement of the Riigikogu condemns the declaration and implementation of mobilisation by Russia’s regime as breaches of international law, stating that mobilisation carried out for the purpose of continuing the crime of aggression constitutes a crime against peace.
According to the Statement, the Riigikogu supports the request to strip the Russian Federation of its status of a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and calls on the European Union Member States to stand united in implementing additional economic sanctions and the sanctions against private individuals with regard to the Russian Federation and its ally Belarus, and to monitor the strict adherence to the sanctions put in place so far.
The Riigikogu calls on the European Union and NATO Member States to decisively increase military aid to Ukraine, which is needed to stand against the aggression of the Russian Federation and to restore the sovereignty of Ukraine on its territory within its internationally recognised borders. The Statements also says that it is necessary to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine and to support the country during the post-war reconstruction. “Estonia supports the people, the state, and the army of Ukraine with all the means available and believes in the victory of Ukraine as this is the only way to restore peace in Europe,” reads the text of the Statement adopted today.
This is the fourth Statement the Riigikogu has adopted this year to condemn the activities of Russia and express support to Ukraine. On 18 January, the Riigikogu adopted 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; and 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.
Today and tomorrow, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Marko Mihkelson participates in the meeting of the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the parliaments of the Baltic States and the Nordic Countries in Lithuania. Ensuring of regional energy security, granting security guarantees to Ukraine and forming an international special tribunal to investigate Russia’s crimes of aggression are discussed at the meeting.
Mihkelson said that all topics of the meeting were motivated by Russia’s ongoing war of aggression in Ukraine, which, among other things, had led to a rise of energy prices and the need for common solutions across Europe. “Russia’s war is affecting the whole Western world, for which Ukraine is fighting now. Therefore, we must act even more intensely to help Ukraine win and to support in every way possible the strategic defeat of Russia’s regime,” he underlined. “As well as supporting Ukraine’s army, people and economy, we must also offer them a clear NATO perspective, and a special tribunal must be set up to ensure that every war criminal in Russia will be punished.”
The meeting in Palanga, Lithuania, will begin with a discussion on ensuring the energy security of the Baltic States and the Nordic Countries in the situation where Russia is continuing the war in Ukraine. Director of the Lithuanian Energy Agency Virgilijus Poderys will present a report at the discussion.
On Monday, the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees will discuss providing international security guarantees to Ukraine. Harry Nedelcu, representative of Rasmussen Global, the consultation company founded by former Secretary General of NATO Anders Fogh Rasmussen, will make a presentation about the strategic document giving recommendations on the guarantees. Ambassador of Ukraine in Lithuania Petro Beshta and Vice-Minister of National Defence of Lithuania Žilvinas Tomkus will participate in the discussion.
The Chairs of the eight Foreign Affairs Committees will also speak about establishing of an international special tribunal to investigate Russia’s crimes of aggression. Former representative of Ukraine in the International Court of Justice in The Hague Anton Korynevych and representative of the Ministry of Justice of Lithuania Ričard Dzikovič will participate in this discussion.
The meeting, which is held in the Baltic and Nordic NB8 format, brings together the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Parliaments of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas met with the delegation of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine and Zhytomyr Oblast that is on a visit to Estonia. The head of the delegation is Chairman of the Ukraine-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group Arsenii Pushkarenko
Ratas emphasised at the beginning of the meeting, “We understand the gravity of the situation that Russia’s aggression has caused to Ukraine.” He added that tomorrow, 14 October was the Defenders Day in Ukraine. “This is the day when we celebrate the bravery of the Ukrainian armed forces and the Ukrainian people in defending their country. It is also the day when we commemorate those who have given their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine and are with their close ones in our thoughts,” Ratas said. “With the price of your lives, you have made the world a better place.”
Ratas said that proceeding from the Declaration of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, on Tuesday 85 members of the Riigikogu had submitted for legislative proceedings in the Riigikogu a draft Statement on condemning the annexation of the territory of Ukraine and declaring Russia a terrorist regime. It is planned to adopt the Statement next week.
Ratas underlined that Ukraine was fighting for its freedom as well as for the future of Europe and the whole democratic world. The President of the Riigikogu stated that we strongly condemned Russia’s barbaric attacks on the Ukrainian people and the civilian infrastructure across Ukraine.
Ratas said that we had already started with the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine in Zhytomyr Oblast. “We focus on reconstructing public buildings and facilities, like building a kindergarten in the city of Ovruch,” Ratas added.
Head of the Ukrainian delegation Arsenii Pushkarenko said that Estonia’s contribution in supporting Ukraine both in the situation of war and in the planned reconstruction was highly appreciated in Ukraine. He recalled with appreciation the visits of Estonian politicians to war-torn Ukraine, which have been of great moral importance.
“Estonia supports the NATO open door policy and Ukraine’s purposeful progress towards NATO membership,” Ratas underlined. He added that Estonia was ready to support Ukraine on the way to the European Union and share its European integration experience. “Your motivation, functioning democratic institutions and progress during the time you are fighting against the aggressor are impressive,” Ratas said.
The Ukrainian delegation also met with Vice-President of the Riigikogu Helir-Valdor Seeder and members of the Estonia-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group, as well as with the members of the Government and the representatives of wood processing companies. Tomorrow they will have meetings with the representatives of the City of Tallinn, and visit the Freedom School of Estonia, a school for Ukrainian war refugee children.
During the meetings, support to Ukraine in the fight against Russia’s aggression, the current situation in the war-torn country, and Estonia’s possibilities to assist Ukraine in post-war reconstruction were discussed. Cooperation in Ukraine’s European integration was also spoken about.
Today, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) unanimously adopted a resolution on further escalation in the Russian Federation’s aggression against Ukraine, to which the motion to amend of the Estonian delegation to declare the Russian Federation a terrorist regime was added. In the opinion of the head of the Estonian delegation Eerik-Niiles Kross, this is a sign of significant change in Europe’s attitude.
Members of the Estonian delegation Indrek Saar and Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski took the floor at the discussion of the report.
Saar said in his speech that the biggest surprise for Putin, besides the bravery of the Ukrainian people, was European solidarity. “We must keep it up if we want our valued rules-based world order to prevail, and we must not let ourselves be led into traps. One of these has already been set up – immediate ceasefire at any price. That is the road to hell which is paved with good intentions. Peace can only come on the terms of the Ukrainian people,” he said.
In her speech, Jufereva-Skuratovski called on making a distinction between Russia’s terrorist regime and the Russian citizens who are condemning Putin’s regime and actively oppose it. “I also see a need to express support to the political prisoners who have been jailed for their views and activities. Vladimir Kara-Murza, who was awarded the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize, can serve as a great example of someone fighting for a free Russia. We need to keep people like him in our field of vision and not push them away,” she said.
Today morning, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy also delivered a video address to the PACE Autumn plenary session.
At its yesterday’s sitting, the Assembly adopted the report on the situation of democracy in Hungary, where Eerik-Niiles Kross was one of the co-rapporteurs. The report invites the Assembly to closely follow the developments with regard to the functioning of democratic institutions and the rule of law in Hungary.
Member of the Estonian delegation Urmas Reitelmann also participates in the work of the PACE Autumn Session in Strasbourg, France.
