Draft law amending the Penal Code and other laws in consequence thereof (offence-based sanctions) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-25 23:13
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 11
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 16m
AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The agenda item concerned the first reading of bill 441 on amending the Criminal Code and other laws related thereto (sanction offences), initiated by the Government of the Republic. Minister of Justice and Digital Transformation, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, introduced the bill, emphasizing its necessity for more effective implementation and handling of international sanctions stemming from Russian aggression. The bill's primary objective is to share the workload of handling sanction violations: violations valued at less than 10,000 euros will be reclassified as minor offences and assigned to the Tax and Customs Board (MTA) for handling, thereby freeing up resources for the Office for the Protection of the Republic (KAPO). KAPO will continue to deal with larger amounts, systematic or repeated violations. The Minister also highlighted the position that sanctioned goods should be confiscated and destroyed, not realized.
The Chairman of the Steering Committee, the Legal Committee, Andre Hanimägi, confirmed that the committee considered reducing KAPO’s workload to be reasonable and that cooperation with the MTA is ensured. During the negotiations, both Eesti 200 (Peeter Tali) and EKRE (Arvo Aller) supported the bill. Peeter Tali used his speaking time to call for a complete trade embargo against Russia and Belarus and criticized European Union countries for using Russian LNG.
Decisions Made 2
Bill 441 has completed its first reading.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 9, 2023, at 4:00 PM.
Most Active Speaker
Peeter Tali (Estonia 200 faction) was the most active speaker. He supported the bill but significantly broadened the discussion, calling for the imposition of a full trade embargo against Russia and Belarus and criticizing Hungary's presidency. His speech was outwardly focused on foreign policy (other).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi announced that the ninth item on the agenda had been reached, and the first reading of Bill 441, concerning amendments to the Penal Code and related legislation, would once again be presented to the Riigikogu floor by Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The bill proposes that customs operating at the borders would process sanctions infringements valued up to 10,000 euros. These infringements are to be reclassified as misdemeanors that can be handled immediately at the border. Larger sums, as well as group-related or repeated sanctions offenses, will remain under the jurisdiction of the Security Police Board (Kaitsepolitseiamet), with the goal of enhancing the enforcement and punishment of sanctions, rather than just prevention.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi, speaking from the Riigikogu rostrum as the representative of the leading committee, requested that Andre Hanimägi, the chairman of the Legal Committee, present the discussion and the decisions reached within the Legal Committee.

Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The Riigikogu Legal Affairs Committee discussed the draft bill and stressed that the processing of sanctions issues must not be left solely to the Security Police. Furthermore, cooperation between the Security Police and the Tax and Customs Board must continue, and materials will be forwarded to KAPO if the matter involves a group or repeat offense. The draft bill will be placed on the plenary session agenda on September 25th, the first reading will be concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is October 9th.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks and opened the floor for debate, noting that the opposing side's presentation was clear and that they had no questions. Following this, Peeter Tali, speaking on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction, requested that the proceedings begin.

Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali promises to speak briefly, but asks for three extra minutes just in case.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi said that the speech may last for a maximum of eight minutes.

Peeter Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Tali emphasizes that this draft law reduces bureaucracy and makes the implementation of sanctions more effective, while simultaneously calling for the imposition of a full trade embargo on Russia and similar sanctions on Belarus, reducing Russian energy supplies, strengthening controls in third countries, and establishing common European Union solidarity and tight border control to finally halt the circumvention of sanctions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The address begins with great thanks and announces that Arvo Aller is representing the EKRE faction.

Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller emphasized that the Hungarian presidency must not damage partnership relations within NATO, and added that EKRE supported a draft bill according to which the processing of border crossing points and related misdemeanor proceedings would be transferred to the Tax and Customs Board so that the Security Police Board could save resources.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The negotiations have concluded; the first reading of Draft Bill 441 has been completed, and the deadline for submitting amendments is 4:00 PM on October 9th of this year.