First Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Criminal Jurisdiction and Destruction of Submarine Infrastructure) Bill (656 SE)
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-10-09 00:31
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 17
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 28m
AI Summaries: 17/17 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The tenth item on the Riigikogu agenda was the first reading of Bill 656, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the Act amending the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure (criminal jurisdiction and destruction of subsea infrastructure). The presentation was given by Liisa-Ly Pakosta, the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, who explained that the bill addresses legal gaps resulting from several recent events, including the issue of jurisdiction over Estonian foreign representations and the need to protect critical subsea infrastructure. The bill provides for the extension of criminal law to Estonia's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, and significantly raises the penalties for damaging subsea infrastructure (up to 10 years imprisonment and fines of up to 4 billion euros for legal entities). Furthermore, surveillance activities are permitted in cases of property damage where there is reason to suspect commissioned work by the special services of hostile states. The ensuing discussion focused on the recent decision by a Finnish court regarding the damage to the Estlink 2 cable, which the Minister considered a misinterpretation of international maritime law, and debated the deterrent effect of criminal law.
Decisions Made 2
The first reading was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 22 at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Madis Timpson, who posed a crucial question to the minister concerning the ruling on the lack of Finnish court jurisdiction in the Estlink 2 case. He later delivered a report on the committee's decisions in his capacity as Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee. (Parempoolne/Right-wing)
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi introduced to the Riigikogu, as the tenth item on the agenda, the first reading of Draft Act 656, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning amendments to the Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, which addresses criminal jurisdiction and the destruction of underwater infrastructure. Following this, he gave the floor to Liisa-Ly Pakosta, the Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta is introducing amendments to the Penal Code, which are necessitated by several recent events, including the Supreme Court’s ruling on the jurisdiction of embassies and attacks by hostile states against critical infrastructure. These changes expand the applicability of Estonian criminal law, permit surveillance measures in cases involving property damage, and establish significantly harsher penalties for damaging underwater infrastructure—up to 10 years imprisonment and a deterrent fine of 4 billion euros—all aimed at ensuring the security of the Estonian people and property as a coastal state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi concluded his segment, thanked the attendees, and invited Madis Timpson to the podium to begin the Q&A session.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson raised a question concerning the damage inflicted upon the Estlink 2 electric cable by the vessel Eagle S. He specifically referenced the Finnish court's ruling, which declared itself lacking jurisdiction in the matter because the incident took place outside Finland's territorial waters. He requested clarification from the minister as to whether the Estonian government has analyzed this ruling and whether the Estonian Prosecutor's Office intends to initiate proceedings in the case, considering that the Estonian Penal Code might permit jurisdiction since the injured party (Elering) is a legal entity registered in Estonia.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta considers the Finnish court decision regarding the internationally noted case to be utterly incomprehensible, as it relies on Article 97 of the international law of the sea (UNCLOS), which is intended for the high seas, while failing to consider the sovereign rights applicable in the exclusive economic zone. She further believes that if Finnish jurisdiction is not established, Estonia should take over the processing of the case, since the court itself indicated that the economic damage primarily occurred in Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi gave the floor to Rain Epler, asking him to proceed with his address.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler raises the question regarding the overly broad wording of the amendment to Section 203, Subsection 1 of the Penal Code, which adds "the aim of personal gain" as a basis for criminal liability for causing proprietary damage, even when the amount of damage is not significant (currently 4,000 euros). He cites the example of slashing a political competitor's tire, warning that such a broad mandate could be disproportionate, even if the amendment's purpose is to address specific cases of intimidation.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta stresses that while obstructing a competitor's activities—for example, by slashing tires—might appear to be petty vandalism on the surface, it is actually an attack against the democratic social order. This is because it hinders the free expression and realization of the people's will, meaning that the moral culpability of such actions, in the defense of the rule of law, is significantly greater than vandalism based on random fits of anger.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi and Peeter Ernits were called to the rostrum.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits cautions against commenting on court decisions that have not yet taken effect, but sharply criticizes the draft legislation being handled, calling it the "pig and cuckoo bill" because it connects Ambassador Clyde Kull's transgression at the Paris embassy with the damage caused to subsea cables by large tankers, urgently demanding the separation of these topics and clearer wording.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa-Ly Pakosta stated that although the topics under discussion—concerning the scope of Estonian law both in maritime areas and in embassies—vary in complexity and societal importance, they are legally unified by the question of Estonian jurisdiction. She simultaneously emphasized that matters concerning state secrets can have fatal consequences.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited the next speaker, Jüri Jaanson, to the podium.
Jüri Jaanson
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Jüri Jaanson is expressing concern regarding the probing of the limits of Estonian legal jurisdiction on the high seas, stemming from a peculiar Finnish court ruling. He is demanding a clear vision from the Ministry of Justice or the government detailing how the state intends to protect its assets located on the seabed, such as communication cables, in the future.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs, Liisa-Ly Pakosta, emphasizes the role of the Ministry of Justice and Digital Affairs in developing legal solutions aimed at deterring acts harmful to Estonia—especially the destruction of submarine cables—through the imposition of strict penalties. She notes that while the Ministry of Justice focuses on criminal deterrence, other ministries are continually enhancing protective measures, acknowledging that the vulnerability of submarine cables has been a persistent international security concern since the 19th century.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi concluded the questioning round and yielded the floor to Madis Timpson, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee, who will present a report on the discussion held and the decisions reached in the lead committee.
Madis Timpson
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Timpson provided an overview of the committee session where the draft legislation was discussed, focusing on the protection of critical infrastructure objects through international agreements (referencing the model used for the Estonia wreck peace agreement), the balance between expanding surveillance activities and citizens' rights, and harsher penalties for politically motivated vandalism. Particular attention was paid to the necessity of raising the maximum financial penalty (exceeding 4 billion euros) for significant infrastructure damage, such as the cutting of an electric cable, in order to ensure a sufficient deterrent effect. The committee decided to conclude the first reading of the draft bill and proposed that it be placed on the agenda for October 8th.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that since no questions or requests for debate were submitted, the first reading of Draft Bill 656 was immediately concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments was set for October 22 of the current year at 5:15 PM.