President of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) Jüri Ratas and President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades discussed bilateral cooperation and the situation in Ukraine at their meeting today.
Speaking of bilateral cooperation, Ratas underlined that Estonia was very interested in having closer cooperation with Cyprus, particularly in the digital sector, where Estonia could share its experience in building up e-governance, and in implementing the digital transition more widely. In his opinion, the two countries also have cooperation possibilities in tourism and marine sector.
As regards the tense situation in Ukraine, Ratas explained that the most important tasks of the West were to increase economic and political pressure on Russia and to give more support to Ukraine.
“Russia’s war in Ukraine has shown the countries of Europe that it is necessary to increase their economic independence and security,” Ratas said. “It is the duty of the Western countries to do everything in order to exert even more pressure on Russia through sanctions. Our aim should be to isolate Russia both politically and economically.”
Ratas pointed out that Ukraine also needed stronger military, economic and political support. “We support granting Ukraine the status of a candidate state of the European Union. Ukraine needs a clear EU perspective,” he added.
Chair of the Estonia-Cyprus Parliamentary Friendship Group Heljo Pikhof and Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu Mihhail Lotman also participated in the meeting.
Today, the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of 18 national parliaments and the European Parliament made a Joint Statement calling on Russia’s authorities to immediately release activist, journalist and politician Vladimir Kara-Murza.
On 11 April, Kara-Murza was arrested outside of his Moscow home following an interview on CNN where he criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The following day, he was sentenced to 15 days in prison for disobeying police orders. On 22 April, a Russian court charged Vladimir Kara-Murza under Russia’s new law that bans the spreading of “false” information about the Russian military, and he could now face up to 15 years in prison.
“These latest charges against Vladimir Kara-Murza are a blatant fabrication meant to distract attention from Putin’s war crimes and deter other courageous Russians from speaking out against the Kremlin. In 2015 and 2017, Vladimir Kara-Murza survived two near-fatal poisonings, traced by investigative journalists to Russian authorities. Consequently, we are deeply concerned about Vladimir Kara-Murza’s safety,” the Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees said in their Statement.
They point out that since Russia invaded Ukraine, over 15,000 Russians have been detained for criticizing or opposing the war, or peacefully demonstrating against it. “In addition, hundreds of Russians have been charged under the same Orwellian law that Vladimir Kara-Murza is accused of contravening. Putin and his regime have shown themselves to be willing to break any law, domestic or international, to suppress political opposition at home and subjugate neighbouring countries,” the Statement underlines.
The Chairs of Foreign Affairs Committees call on all democratic nations and allies to oppose criminal behaviour like this to protect human rights in Russia and worldwide. “Together with the free world, we stand in solidarity both with Ukraine and with Russian civil society in these difficult times. We condemn the Putin regime’s brutal repression of free speech and independent media in Russia and demand the immediate release of Vladimir Kara-Murza and all the prisoners of conscience whom the Russian government has detained,” they say in their Statement.
The Joint Statement initiated by Estonia has been signed by the Chairs of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the national parliaments of the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament also joined the Statement.
If passed, the Bill would prohibit the exhibition of symbols connected with the commission of an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity, or a war crime in a manner that supports or justifies such acts.
Under the Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (support of aggression) (585 SE) (consolidated Bills 556 SE and 576 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa, amendments will be made to the Penal Code that have been prompted by Russia’s attack Ukraine and will ensure an appropriate sanction where a person takes part in a crime of aggression.
According to the Bill, joining the armed forces of a foreign state committing an act of aggression or any other armed unit participating in an act of aggression committed by a foreign state, participation in the commission or preparation of an act of aggression of a foreign state, or knowingly and directly supporting an act of aggression of a foreign state, including funding it, will be punishable as a criminal offence. An imprisonment of up to five years will be provided for such an act. If a legal person commits such an act, it will be sanctioned by a pecuniary punishment.
The Bill also provides that it will not be allowed to publicly exhibit symbols connected with the commission of an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity, or a war crime in a manner that supports or justifies such acts. The Bill provides for a fine of up to three hundred fine units, that is, 1200 euro, or detention for such an act. If a legal person commits such an act, it will be punished by a fine of up to 32,000 euro. The section relating to the exhibition of symbols is planned to enter into force on the day following the day of publication in the Riigi Teataja.
During the debate, Raimond Kaljulaid (Social Democratic Party), Paul Puustusmaa (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Kalle Grünthal (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Heljo Pikhof (Social Democratic Party), Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa), Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) and Hanno Pevkur (Reform Party) took the floor.
The Riigikogu passed an Act
The Act on Amendments to the Employment Contracts Act and Other Associated Acts (521 SE), initiated by the Government, transposes the relevant European Union directive on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union, which lays down minimum requirements relating to working conditions that apply to every worker in order to guarantee an adequate degree of transparency and predictability as regards the working conditions. The proposed amendments will enhance the protection of both employees and officials in employment and service relationships and will help ensure that they are informed about essential working and service conditions at as early a stage of an employment or service relationship as possible.
In the Employment Contracts Act, amendments are made to the set of data of which the employer must inform the employee in writing on commencement of employment. The employer will have the obligation to inform the employee of the training entitlement provided by the employer, the paid leave, the duration of the probationary period, the procedure for working overtime and compensation therefor, the form for cancellation of the employment contract and the obligation to provide justifications, as well as the institutions receiving the taxes and social contributions and the protection accompanying the payment thereof. In the event of changes to the data, information on the changes will have to be provided at the latest on the day on which the changes take effect.
It is also provided that, in the event of an impediment to work, the probationary period is extended correspondingly in relation to the duration of the absence, for example, in the event of temporary incapacity for work. The employee is given the right to request suitable working conditions, for example, to request full-time work instead of part-time work and to receive a response to the request from the employer. In addition, the Act provides for protection against unfavourable treatment for the case when an employee invokes their rights or draws attention to a breach of such rights. This means that, where an employee stands up for their rights, this must not be followed by adverse consequences, for example, where an employee draws attention to the fact that the employer is failing to meet the working hours and rest period requirements, the employer must not impose adverse consequences on the employee.
The Act also amends the Civil Service Act and amends the set of data that must be provided to officials in the acts concerning the organisation of work and in the salary guides of authorities. At the same time, the Working Conditions of Employees Posted to Estonia Act provides for the set of data of which the employer must inform the employer in writing in the event of a posting longer than one month, for example, information on the amount of and the currency to be used for the payment of remuneration, and repatriation. The Occupational Health and Safety Act is amended by adding the obligation of the employee to ensure that their working or provision of services at other persons providing employment does not endanger the employee’s or other people’s life or health. The amendment is important for drawing employees’ attention to the importance of meeting the working hours and rest period requirements for health protection purposes.
67 members of the Riigikogu voted for the Act and 11 were against.
Five Bills passed the first reading
The Bill on Amendments to the Health Services Organisation Act and Other Associated Acts a (569 SE) initiated by the Government, will harmonise the current fragmented databases in order to ensure that the data in the current national register of health care professionals, the national register of pharmacists and assistant pharmacists and the national register of activity licences for the provision of health services will be managed uniformly through a new information system. Basically, the essentially intertwined registers will be consolidated into a single health care management information system.
In addition, the possibility of digital registration of health care professionals is provided for. The digital registration of health care professionals will begin to take place on the basis of the Estonian personal identification code through the self-service portal of the Health Board. If the data certifying the qualifications of the person are contained in the Estonian Education Information System, no additional certifications will need to be submitted to the Health Board and the decision on registration as health care professional will be made automatically. Currently, in addition to applications, documents certifying education must be submitted on paper or as photocopies. For people who do not have an Estonian personal identification code the registration process will remain the same compared to the Health Services Organisation Act.
The Bill on Amendments to the Defence Forces Organisation Act and Other Acts (transfer of the ships of the Police and Border Guard Board to the area of government of the Ministry of Defence) (572 SE), initiated by the Government, will create the legal bases for the transfer of the ships of the Police and Border Guard Board to the Defence Forces from 1 January 2023.
According to the amendments, the Defence Forces will be responsible for creating maritime situational awareness, guarding the maritime border, and detecting and eliminating marine pollution in the Estonian marine area. The Defence Forces will also begin to be responsible for maritime surveillance, and will begin to manage and operate a maritime surveillance system, also ensuring among other things the availability of the service to domestic partners (e.g. Police and Border Guard Board, Transport Administration). Although marine rescue will continue to remain the task of the Police and Border Guard Board, the Defence Forces will participate in search and rescue at sea with the ships to be transferred. In addition, the Defence Forces will exercise state supervision in the territorial sea over the conformity of the equipment of recreational craft, ships with an overall length of less than 12 metres and personal watercraft, provide the marine assistance service, respond to emergencies at sea and provide professional assistance to other agencies, in particular outside the navigation period. For guarding the maritime border and ensuring maritime safety, the Defence Forces will be given law enforcement powers and the right to use direct coercion. The Defence Forces will also be given law enforcement powers to perform initial procedures for intervention in the event of threats to human life and health in small islands and the marine area.
The aim of the reform is to improve the situational awareness and response capability in the Estonian marine area, including to simplify the chain of command in order to ensure Estonia’s independent defence capabilities and the preconditions for allied response to conflicts taking place in the region. The consolidation of the ships of the Police and Border Guard Board under the Defence Forces will ensure better performance of national defence duties both in peace time and in situations of threat. During threat situations, the ships to be transferred will have both a security and a civil role.
During the debate, Martin Helme (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) and Mati Raidma (Reform Party) took the floor.
The Estonian Conservative People’s Party Faction moved to reject the Bill at the first reading. 10 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion and 48 voted against. Thus, the motion was not supported and the Bill passed the first reading.
The Insolvency of Natural Persons Bill (575 SE), initiated by the Government, provides for making the insolvency proceedings for natural persons quicker, more efficient and less costly.
A new Act will be established that will regulate the opening of insolvency proceedings, and debt adjustment and debt discharge proceedings for natural persons. The Debt Restructuring and Debt Protection Act that has been in force so far will be repealed. Bankruptcy proceedings will remain to be regulated by the Bankruptcy Act.
In the future, insolvency proceedings for a natural person will be opened by a request for insolvency proceedings, which may turn into bankruptcy proceedings, debt discharge proceedings as well as debt adjustment proceedings. The system for counselling debtors will also change. In the future, a trustee will be counselling and assisting a debtor from the beginning to the end. A person becomes a trustee when he or she passes the relevant examination. Courts will appoint trustees for individual proceedings from the list of trustees maintained at the Chamber of Bailiffs and Trustees in Bankruptcy. In addition, the awarding of the profession of practitioner in the field of restructuring in the restructuring procedure will be regulated.
In addition, trustees in bankruptcy will be given the right to open professional payment accounts upon carrying out bankruptcy proceedings. Under the current procedure, trustees in bankruptcy are allowed to use only debtors’ accounts for settlement but this has caused several problems in practice. For example, it is not unusual that the debtor’s account is closed when bankruptcy is declared but no new account is opened. In order to overcome this and several other problems, in the future, it will be possible for trustees in bankruptcy to open proceedings-based accounts.
The Bill on Amendments to the Police and Border Guard Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (532 SE), initiated by the Government, will make the necessary amendments to implement the Entry/Exit System (EES), which was established by a relevant European Union Regulation. The data of third-country nationals who cross the external borders with the aim of entering the European Union for the purpose of a short stay (90 days in any 180-day period) will be entered in the system.
The agency established for the operational management of large-scale EU IT systems (eu-LISA) will be managing the system, and Estonia will establish no new database. In Estonia, we will be able to use the system in border control, migration supervision, and visa proceedings. In addition, the Regulation enables the data entered in the system to be used for the prevention, detection or investigation of terrorist offences or of other serious criminal offences. No one will have an automatic right to view the data for such purposes. An application will have to be made to the relevant unit, and the conditions set out in the EU Regulation will have to be met.
In addition, amendments will be made that will enable officials of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency who are included in the activities of the police and customs to use their service weapons.
The amendments concerning the Entry/Exit System are planned to enter into force on the date that the European Commission will determine for the introduction thereof.
The amendments proposed by the Bill on Amendments to the State Borders Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (577 SE), initiated by the Government, will give the state better opportunities to fight mass immigration in emergency when foreigners are invading illegally across the state border of Estonia and are submitting unfounded applications for international protection.
According to the Bill, during an emergency, the Police and Border Guard Board may refuse to accept an application for international protection from an alien who has arrived in the country illegally and send them back without issuing a precept to leave or making a decision on prohibition on entry. It is allowed to enter Estonia through the external border only through open border crossing points.
At the same time, according to the Bill, the Police and Border Guard Board will be given the right to designate the places where aliens can submit applications for international protection.
The Bill also provides for more flexible involvement of the Defence Forces and the Defence League in the protection of public and constitutional order in the cases when the resources of the Police and Border Guard Board are insufficient. Currently, the Defence Forces or the Defence League can be involved for a period not exceeding 30 days, but this does not meet the changed security situation where it may be necessary to involve them for longer periods.
The explanatory memorandum notes that the artificially created migration pressure in the region has shown that the Estonian legal order needs to be ready to manage such hybrid attacks and to ensure security in a mass immigration emergency.
During the debate, Toomas Kivimägi (Reform Party) and Eduard Odinets (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.
Today, the delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) goes on a two-day visit to Germany, where they will discuss the possibilities for supporting Ukraine as well as strengthening the deterrence and defence capability on NATO’s eastern flank.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson said that Ukraine needed more military and humanitarian aid from the countries of Europe, as well as rapid tightening of sanctions against Russia, in particular suspension of trade in energy sources. “We all must do more and act faster to help Ukraine to victory. We will focus on the opportunities for effectively supporting Ukraine also at the meetings held in Germany,” he added.
The preparations for the NATO summit that will take place in Madrid in June constitute another important topic to be discussed at the meetings. “We expect decisions from Madrid to strengthen deterrence, increase NATO presence and, through it, significantly improve the security of Estonia and also of our region more widely. Germany has been our firm ally who has already proven its commitment to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank,” Mihkelson said.
During their visit to Germany, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson, Deputy Chairman Mihhail Lotman and members of the Foreign Affairs Committee Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski, Henn Põlluaas and Indrek Saar will meet with Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the German Bundestag Michael Roth, member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Bundestag Knut Abraham and Chair of the Germany-Baltic Friendship Group Alexander Graf Lambsdorff. The Foreign Affairs Committee delegation will also meet with Minister of State for Europe Anna Lührmann, and it is planned to have meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Germany and the think tank Körber-Stiftung.
Mihkelson will meet with Head of Department for Foreign and Security Policy at the Federal Chancellery Christian Aulbach and deliver a speech at the media concern Axel Springer.
Monday evening the representatives of the Foreign Affairs Committee will be at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, where Prime Minister of Estonia Kaja Kallas will deliver a speech.
On the open House Day of the Riigikogu, the Parliament of Estonia, nearly 4000 people came to Toompea to visit the Riigikogu, learn about the work of the Parliament, meet the politicians and see the rooms they work in. The most popular activities of the Open House Day were guided tours of the Riigikogu and visits to the Tall Hermann Tower. The representative rooms and working rooms of the Riigikogu as well as the offices of political groups, where the people could meet the members of the Riigikogu, were open all day.
Many visitors came from foreign countries, like Ukraine, Finland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Canada, Brazil, India and Thailand.
The Riigikogu Open House Day began with a musical welcome by Tallinn Trumpet Ensemble on the balcony of Toompea Castle. President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas greeted the visitors in the courtyard of the Castle.
In the café of the Riigikogu, members of the Riigikogu Heiki Hepner, Raimond Kaljulaid, Henn Põlluaas, Mati Raidma, and Marko Šorin held a discussion on the protection of civilians. The discussion was moderated by Urmas Vaino.
Five school teams and two teams of the Riigikogu participated in the quiz of the Open House Day. The close-run competition for the first place was won by the team Riigikogu I, which consisted of member of the Riigikogu Jaak Juske, Advisers of the Legal and Research Department Toivo Mängel and Triinu Põdramägi and Head of State Electoral Office Arne Koitmäe. Team Gustav Adolf Grammar School I won the second place and was the best school team. The quiz was prepared and conducted by acknowledged quiz players Indrek Salis and Aare Olander.
To celebrate the Year of Libraries, the National Library brought along a pop-up library and web games, Tallinn Central Library set up a reading nest with comic books and virtual reality, and Katarina Jee Mobile Library came to Toompea.
The Defence League, Women’s Home Defence, Home Daughters, and Young Eagles held workshops in the Castle and its courtyard. The Estonian War Museum organised a sale in support of Ukraine, and the Women’s Home Defence sold the flower pins of the Blue Hepatica Campaign “Let Us Salute!” to support the war veterans. The students of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre gave a concert dedicated to Ukraine. The Open House Day ended with the concert of the Defence League band Mustad Kolonelid.
With the Open House Day, the Riigikogu celebrated its 103rd anniversary.
The first representative body elected by the people in independent Estonia – the Constituent Assembly – convened in Tallinn on 23 April 1919. Since 1999, the Riigikogu has been celebrating the anniversary of that event with an Open House Day, which this year took place for the 22nd time, after a two-year pause.
Member of the Ukrainian parliament Olena Shuliak described the vote in the Riigikogu as historically important for Ukraine. She sees recognising Russia’s activities as a genocide against the Ukrainian people as important for honouring the memory of the tens of thousands of fallen, but also important for those who have been tortured or raped, for those whose houses have been destroyed, as well as for those who are today forced to hide in cellars of Mariupol to shelter from bombing. “Qualifying the crime as such will lead to irrevocable condemnation. Starting with the perpetrators and ending with Vladimir Putin in person,” she said.
Shuliak reminded us that it was our shared responsibility to do everything in our power to end the genocide. “It is our joint responsibility to make sure that this never again takes place, anytime, anywhere, in no country. I believe that together we can achieve this goal,” she said.
The Riigikogu adopted the Statement of the Riigikogu “On the War Crimes and Genocide Committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine” (584 AE), presented by 84 Members of the Riigikogu.
The Statement says that it has been ascertained that in the war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine, systematic and massive war crimes have been committed against the Ukrainian nation by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. These crimes are ideologically incited by Russia’s political and military leadership and its national propaganda authorities.
“In the temporarily occupied territories, in particular the towns of Bucha, Borodyanka, Hostomel, Irpin, Mariupol, and many other Ukrainian settlements, the Russian Federation has committed acts of genocide, inter alia mass atrocities against the civilian population. These have consisted of murders, enforced disappearances, deportations, imprisonment, torture, rape, and desecration of corpses,” says the Statement.
In its Statement, the Riigikogu recognizes as genocide against the Ukrainian people the actions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and calls on national parliaments and international organisations to do the same. The Riigikogu calls to support the investigation of these crimes, the prosecution of the perpetrators and the establishment of an international court for this purpose.
The Riigikogu also calls on countries around the world to immediately strengthen the sanctions against the Russian Federation, including by ending the trade of energy carriers with Russia with no exceptions, and to increase military assistance and humanitarian aid of critical importance to Ukraine. The Riigikogu expresses deep respect to the Ukrainian nation in their fight for freedom, commemorates the fallen, and mourns the victims.
During the debate, Anti Poolamets (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Mati Raidma (Reform Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa), Lauri Läänemets (Social Democratic Party), and Enn Eesmaa (Centre Party) took the floor.
86 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Statement.
The Riigikogu began the sitting by passing an act that bans the use of symbols that support acts of aggression by a foreign state, and then continued with the second reading of a Bill on producing and consuming renewable energy.
Act on Amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (supporting of aggression) (585 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa and the Government, prohibits the exhibition of symbols connected with the commission of an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity or a war crime in a manner that supports or justifies such acts. The Act also makes its a criminal offence to join foreign aggression.
The Act will introduce amendments to the Penal Code that have been prompted by Russia’s attack against Ukraine and will ensure an appropriate punishment if a person takes part in the aggression. Under the Act, joining the armed forces of a foreign state that is committing an act of aggression, or any other armed unit participating in an act of aggression committed by a foreign state, participation in the commission of or preparing an act of aggression by a foreign state as well as knowingly and directly, including financially, supporting an act of aggression by a foreign state is punishable as a criminal offence. An imprisonment of up to five years is provided for such an act. If a legal person commits such an act, it will receive a pecuniary punishment.
The Act also bans public exhibit of symbols connected with the commission of an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity, or a war crime in a manner that supports or justifies such acts. The Act provides for a fine of up to three hundred fine units, that is EUR 1,200, or detention for such an act. If a legal person commits such an act, it will be punished by a fine of up to EUR 32,000. The section relating to the exhibition of symbols will enter into force on the day following the day of publication in the Riigi Teataja.
69 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of and 3 members voted against passing the Act on Amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (supporting of aggression) (585 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa and the Government.
During the debate, representatives of factions Heljo Pikhof (Social Democratic Party), Signe Kivi (Reform Party), Marek Jürgenson (Centre Party), Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa), and Anti Poolamets (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.
The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of one Bill
The Bill on Amendments to the Energy Sector Organisation Act and Amendments to Other Associated Acts (382 SE), initiated by the Government, will transpose the European Union Renewable Energy Directive, which aims to increase the production and consumption of renewable energy both in households and at the level of large producers and consumers.
The amendments made with the transposition of the Renewable Energy Directive can be divided into three groups according to their content and scope: the national renewable energy targets and the principles for the calculation thereof together with the issues of guarantees of origin; the boosting and facilitation of the consumption of renewable-source energy generated for own use, which includes spatial plans and administrative and authorisation procedures; and the sustainability criteria for biofuels.
During the debate, Kalvi Kõva (Social Democratic Party), Aivar Kokk (Isamaa), and Peeter Ernits (Estonian Conservative People’s Party) took the floor.
The delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine that is on a visit in Estonia will give a press conference in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) after the additional sitting of the Riigikogu today.
The members of the delegation will attend the additional sitting of the Riigikogu on Thursday, scheduled to start 30 minutes after the end of the regular sitting, which starts at 10 a.m. Head of the delegation of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Shuliak will address the plenary of the Riigikogu during the additional sitting. This will be followed by a vote on the draft Statement of the Riigikogu “On the War Crimes and Genocide Committed by the Russian Federation in Ukraine” (584 AE), initiated by 84 Members of the Riigikogu.
Members of the press,
You are kindly invited to attend the press conference of the delegation of the Ukrainian Parliament, which will begin 15 minutes after the end of the additional sitting. Head of the delegation Olena Shuliak and members Tetiana Tsyba, Tetiana Hryshchenko, Iryna Herashchenko, Mariia Ionova and Arsenii Pushkarenko will participate in the press conference. The press conference will be held in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu.
At today’s plenary sitting, the Riigikogu (Parliament of Estonia) passed the Act under which it is a crime to join the aggression committed by a foreign state. The Act also bans exhibition of symbols that are connected with an act of aggression.
The Act will introduce amendments to the Penal Code that have been prompted by Russia’s attack against Ukraine and will ensure an appropriate punishment if a person takes part in aggression. Pursuant to the Act, joining the armed forces of a foreign state committing an act of aggression or any other armed unit participating in an act of aggression committed by a foreign state, participation in the commission of or preparing an act of aggression by a foreign state as well as knowingly and directly, including financially supporting an act of aggression by a foreign state is punishable as a criminal offence. Under the Act, such an activity is punishable by imprisonment of up to five years. If such an act is committed by a legal person, it is punishable by a pecuniary punishment.
The Act also provides that it is not allowed to publicly exhibit symbols connected with the commission of an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity or a war crime in a way that expresses support to or justifies such activities. Pursuant to the Act, this is punishable by a fine of up to three hundred fine units or 1200 euro, or detention. If such an act is committed by a legal person, it is punishable by a fine of up to 32,000 euro. It is planned that the section relating to the exhibition of symbols will enter into force on the day following the day of publication in the Riigi Teataja.
The draft of the Act was created by combining the Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (support of aggression, and the associated hostile activities) (576 SE), initiated by the Government, and the Bill on Amendments to the Penal Code (556 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa.
69 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour and three against of passing the Act on Amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Misdemeanour Procedure (supporting of aggression) (585 SE), initiated by Faction Isamaa and the Government.
The President of the Riigikogu Jüri Ratas, meeting the delegation of the Ukrainian parliament today, promised that Estonia would continue supporting Ukraine in every way possible, both by advocating for stronger sanctions and by providing consistent military and humanitarian aid.
Ratas said that Ukraine needed rapid and specific assistance mainly in the form of weaponry, but also on the economic and political front. “Estonia is making every effort to support the government and people of Ukraine. We support the providing of military and humanitarian aid and the toughening of sanctions, but this is not nearly enough – we also need to work even harder to involve our partners and allies. Each and every one of us needs to do more until Ukraine has won this war,” he urged.
Specific proposals on how Estonia could help Ukraine even more were discussed during the meeting. Possible support in reconstructing the country after the war was also discussed.
The delegation of the Ukrainian parliament met with Prime Minister Kaja Kallas this morning. The delegation is also meeting the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riigikogu today, and the Estonia-Ukraine Parliamentary Group on Thursday.
The members of the delegation will attend the additional sitting of the Riigikogu on Thursday, scheduled to start 30 minutes after the end of the regular sitting which starts at 10 a.m. The head of the Ukrainian delegation Olena Šuliak will address the Riigikogu during the additional sitting. This will be followed by a vote on the Statement of the Riigikogu “War Crimes and Genocide of the Russian Federation in Ukraine” (584 AE), initiated by 84 Members of the Riigikogu.
15 minutes after the end of the additional sitting, the representatives of the Ukrainian parliament will hold a press conference in the Conference Hall of the Riigikogu.
The delegation of the Ukrainian parliament will also meet the President Alar Karis, Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Taavi Aas, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Eva-Maria Liimets. The Ukrainian MPs will visit the refugee reception centre on Niine Street in Tallinn, and meet Estonian NGOs who have been extremely active in helping Ukrainian refugees.