Inquiry regarding Ukrainian refugees, especially men of mobilization age (No. 794)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-06 21:24
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 43
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 30m
AI Summaries: 43/43 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the interpellation (No. 794) submitted by Riigikogu members Jaak Valge and Leo Kunnas concerning Ukrainian refugees, especially men of mobilization age. The submitter of the query, Jaak Valge (EKRE), sharply criticized Estonia's refugee policy, claiming that it favors mobilization-age men who are fleeing their country's mobilization, rather than the true victims of the war (women and children). Valge highlighted that mobilization-age men constitute as much as 65% (4,643 men) of Ukrainians who have received international protection, a figure which, according to him, is many times higher than in neighboring Latvia and Lithuania. He accused Estonia of undermining Ukraine's will to defend itself by providing shelter to deserters.
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro (Eesti 200) refuted the numbers and claims presented by Valge as demagoguery. The Minister explained that if all Ukrainians who have received protection are taken into account (recipients of both temporary and international protection, totaling approximately 35,000), the proportion of mobilization-age men is below 30% (12,500 men), which is close to the European average (24%). Taro emphasized that international protection does not inquire about gender or age, and it is granted against the Russian aggressor. He confirmed that the Ministry of the Interior has repeatedly contacted the Ukrainian ambassador, offering assistance regarding the issue of mobilization-age men, but no official request for the return of these men has come from the Ukrainian state. During the debate, the submitters of the query accused the Minister of fudging the facts and confusing concepts, while the Minister accused the submitters of distorting numbers and falling victim to Russian propaganda.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Jaak Valge (EKRE) was the most active speaker, submitting an interpellation, repeatedly posing clarifying questions, and delivering the closing remarks for the debate. His political stance is right-wing/conservative.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi introduced the interpellation submitted by Jaak Valge and Leo Kunnas regarding Ukrainian refugees, especially men of mobilization age, as the fifth item on the Riigikogu agenda, and then gave the floor to Jaak Valge, the submitter of the interpellation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced the start of the fifth item on the agenda, which was Interpellation No. 794 by Riigikogu members Jaak Valge and Leo Kunnas concerning Ukrainian refugees, especially men of mobilization age, and invited Riigikogu member Jaak Valge to the rostrum for the presentation.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge sharply criticizes Estonia's refugee policy, which has given the concept of "international protection" a new ironic meaning. This is because it protects mobilization-aged Ukrainian men—whose proportion among those receiving protection in Estonia is unreasonably high (65%)—instead of women and children fleeing the war. This effectively shields them from the mobilization duty in their home country, contradicting both the original purpose of international protection and the appeals made by the President of Ukraine.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge sharply criticizes Estonia's refugee policy and the actions of the Ministry of the Interior, arguing that the concept of international protection in Estonia has acquired a new and ironic meaning. This is because the protection is primarily offered to Ukrainian men of mobilization age (who make up 65% of the recipients), who are seemingly being protected from the mobilization obligation of their home country, rather than the true victims of the war—women and children. This practice differs significantly from that of neighboring countries.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks and announced that the opportunity to answer questions had arrived, and he invited Minister of the Interior Igor Taro to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to the interpellators' questions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announced that the opportunity to answer questions would now commence, thanked those present, and invited the honorable Minister of the Interior, Igor Taro, to the Riigikogu podium to respond to the questions posed by the interpellators.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro responded to an inquiry regarding Ukrainian war refugees and men of mobilization age, categorically refuting the misleading data presented in the questions concerning the large proportion of men (which is under 30%). He confirmed that Estonia protects refugees from Russian aggression, not from the Ukrainian state, and called on Riigikogu members to steer clear of Russian propaganda and focus on Estonian population protection.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro responded to an inquiry concerning Ukrainian war refugees and men of mobilization age, categorically refuting false data suggesting that men constitute the majority of those receiving protection. He stressed that their proportion is under 30% and that this is not unique to Estonia, and called on Riigikogu members to focus on civil defense and avoid falling prey to Russian propaganda.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the Minister for his specific answers and then gave the floor to Jaak Valge to clarify whether the questioners were satisfied and to pose the next question.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister for his specific answers and then gave the floor to the questioner, Jaak Valge, to clarify whether the answers were sufficient and to continue the round of questions.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge accuses the minister of vagueness and demagoguery, stressing that the ministry does not sufficiently differentiate between international and temporary protection. Citing PPA data, he asserts that 65% of Ukrainian men of mobilization age in Estonia have received the more extensive international protection, rather than temporary protection, while also criticizing the ministry's inability to correctly analyze data from neighboring countries.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge accuses the minister of demagoguery and avoiding constructive debate, emphasizing the significant difference between broader international protection and temporary protection. He also defends his 65% data concerning Ukrainian men of mobilization age who have received international protection in Estonia, citing figures from the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) and the Riigikogu (Parliament) analysis department, and contrasting this with the practices of Latvia and Lithuania.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi briefly informed his colleague that the next round of negotiations would soon begin.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge sharply criticizes the opposition, accusing them of both avoiding constructive debate and intentionally confusing concepts.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge posed a pointed question as to why the opposing side avoids constructive debate and deliberately muddles the terms during the discussion.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro used statistical data to refute the opposing side's claims that Estonia supposedly favors Ukrainian men of mobilization age when granting international protection. He clarified that men constitute less than 30% of those who received protection, a figure very close to the European average (24%), and accused the opponent of demagoguery for distorting the data.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro, relying on statistical data, refuted Mr. Valge’s claim that Estonia allegedly prioritizes Ukrainian men of mobilization age when granting international protection. Taro explained that the proportion of men who received protection (under 30%) is very close to the European average (24%), and he further accused the questioner of demagoguery for selectively choosing data to support their narrative.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Peeter Ernits, inviting him to the podium to begin his presentation.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits criticized the casual treatment of the issue, stressing that the effects of the war are already being felt in Estonia (specifically in the municipality of Elva). He further proposed forming a division from the 12,500 mobilization-aged Ukrainian men currently residing in Estonia and sending them to Ukraine to defend their homeland.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits expressed indignation over the criticism that he deals with unrealistic topics, highlighting that the war has reached the Elva municipality with a crater, and subsequently asked the minister whether they should consider forming an Estonian-Ukrainian division from the 12,500 mobilization-aged Ukrainian men currently residing in Estonia, so that they could go defend their homeland.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro emphasizes the need to keep the debate focused on numbers and facts and categorically rejects speculations that Estonia has an entire division of untrained men aged 18 to 60 in reserve that could be sent to the front line, deeming such talk as merely playing with numbers devoid of real substance.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro categorically refutes allegations that a division of mobilization-aged men is hidden in Estonia, ready for Ukraine to deploy to the front lines. He stressed that most of these men lack training and that the claim amounts to a pointless numbers game, not real military capability, further confirming that Ukraine has not officially requested such a unit.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called upon Henn Põlluaas to take the rostrum and begin his address.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas dismisses the preceding statement as pure demagoguery and accuses the opposing side of outright lying, arguing that the claim that Ukrainian men of mobilization age who have received temporary protection are not paid any benefits in Estonia is false—they are entitled to receive the same compensation and support as Estonian residents.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas dismisses the preceding narrative as pure demagoguery and accuses the opposing side of outright lying, categorically refuting the claim that mobilization-aged Ukrainians residing in Estonia who have received temporary protection receive no support whatsoever from the state. He emphasizes that, according to the Social Insurance Board, they are entitled to the same benefits and support as Estonian residents.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro confirmed, in response to a question, that the Ministry of the Interior does not support the livelihood of Ukrainian war refugees and does not pay them any benefits.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro took the opportunity to clarify his earlier statement, stressing that the Ministry of the Interior does not provide subsistence benefits to Ukrainian war refugees, nor does it pay them any financial compensation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the Q&A session, thanked the participants, and then, acting as moderator, gave the floor to Jaak Valge, thereby officially opening the negotiations.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience, concluded the round of questions, officially opened the discussions, and gave the floor to Jaak Valge as the first speaker.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge began with a brief word of thanks, and then requested three extra minutes, just in case, to continue his address.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi delivered an extremely brief message, which was limited only to the time designation: "eight minutes."
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge accuses the Minister of the Interior of engaging in empty demagoguery and providing evasive answers, stressing that 4,643 Ukrainian men of mobilization age have received international protection in Estonia—three times the number of Ukrainian women. He argues that this practice undermines Ukraine's will to defend itself by sending the wrong signal to potential deserters. Consequently, he demands the immediate halt to granting international protection to men of mobilization age and insists that they be required to present documents verifying their military service status.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge voiced sharp dissatisfaction with the minister’s evasive answers and demagoguery, sharply criticizing Estonia’s policy of granting international protection to thousands of Ukrainian men of mobilization age. He stressed that this sends the wrong signal to deserters, undermines Ukraine’s will to defend itself, and contradicts the principle of assisting the country. He urgently demands an end to granting international protection and requiring a certificate of exemption from military service from all those who have received it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the previous speaker, Mr. Valge, confirmed that no other members of the Riigikogu had requested the floor, and subsequently gave the floor to Minister Igor Taro to conclude the debate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked Mr. Valge, noted that there were no further requests to speak from the members of the Riigikogu, and yielded the floor to Minister Igor Taro to conclude the debate.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro confirms that Estonia supports Ukraine comprehensively, offering protection to Ukrainians, and refutes criticism regarding the forced repatriation of refugees. He stresses that the Ukrainian state has not officially requested this and that the proportion of men residing in Estonia (under 30%) is consistent with the European average, which is why Estonia's refugee policy does not significantly differ from that of other European countries.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro emphasizes Estonia’s unwavering support for Ukraine, which is comparable to the European average. This support is demonstrated through both military aid and the provision of protection to the Ukrainian people. He refuted criticism regarding the forced return of refugees, confirming that the Ukrainian state has not officially requested such a step from Estonia. Furthermore, the proportion of men residing in Estonia is entirely comparable to the European average.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi closed the debate, thanked the participants, and immediately gave the floor to Peeter Ernits, who wished to pose a question to the Chair.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits, who is a member of the Ukraine parliamentary group, is protesting the statement made by the Minister of the Interior.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi began his address with a polite and formal greeting, referring to the audience as colleagues.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits categorically rejected the claim that Siberia and Ukraine were one and the same, emphasizing their distinct differences.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked his colleague and briefly stated that the time for negotiations was over and the consideration of the fifth item on the agenda had been concluded.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi politely concluded the discussion, thanking his colleague and then announcing that the time for negotiations was over.