Hiiumaa Memorial to the War of Independence and other historical monuments
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th sitting, press briefing
Date: 2025-03-26 14:41
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 7
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 6m
AI Summaries: 7/7 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's fourth question focused on the problems of erecting and funding the memorial to the War of Independence on Hiiumaa, near Pühalepa church. Member of the Riigikogu Vladimir Arhipov addressed Culture Minister Heidy Purga, describing the memorial’s current location as "a hole" and "a disgrace to the Estonian state," emphasizing the monument’s symbolic importance in national memory. Arhipov inquired about the government’s plans to rectify the injustice.
Minister Purga provided a detailed overview of the funding history, explaining that while the Ministry of Defence initially allocated €0.5 million from the 2022 budget, the Riigikogu finance committee reduced that amount by €250,000, redirecting the remainder to the renovation of Pühalepa St. Lawrence’s Church. The Ministry of Culture has already allocated €250,000 to the Hiiumaa Heritage Protection Society. However, when the society later requested an additional €350,000 due to rising prices, the ministry was forced to decline due to budget constraints. Purga affirmed that the state has done everything possible within the allocated €250,000 and promised to maintain contact with local stakeholders so that the memorial can be completed when the state budget situation improves. Arhipov’s repeated request to find emergency additional funding (considering the municipality's €100,000 contribution) went unanswered, citing the limited possibilities of budgetary resources.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made.
Most Active Speaker
Vladimir Arhipov (member of the Riigikogu, and others) was active, presenting an initial pointed question and a clarifying question, pressing the minister to find emergency additional funding.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker of the Riigikogu, Lauri Hussar, announces that the fourth question to Culture Minister Heidy Purg is submitted by Riigikogu member Vladimir Arhipov on the topic of the Hiiumaa War of Independence memorial and other historical monuments.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov emphasizes that the War of Independence memorials are important symbols of Estonia's independence, and their proper establishment and maintenance reflect the country's reverence for its past; he describes what he saw in Hiiumaa—a hole that should be a memorial—as a shameful injustice for the country and calls on the government to remove it, because every family has relatives who fought for Estonia's freedom.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
For the Hiiumaa War of Independence monument, the state has allocated 250,000 euros from the state budget, but due to rising prices there arose a need for additional funding of about 350,000 euros, and at present no additional funding has been allocated; however the state is monitoring the situation and the National Heritage Board is cooperating with the Hiiumaa side in the hope that the monument will be completed as the budget improves.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman thanked and asked Vladimir Arhipov to pose a clarifying question.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They thank and emphasize that the memory of their ancestors is more important than money, but the Hiiumaa municipality is ready to contribute 100,000 euros, and the remaining amount, about 250,000 euros, is still short, and they request extraordinary funding for a construction that is very important for the Estonian people and ask whether there is any hope.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga said that memorials across Estonia are important and the state may participate in their renovation or construction within the framework of budget funds; the cost of the memorial statue planned in front of Hiiumaa's Pühalepa Church is about a quarter of a million euros and it is already underway, and locals are kept informed about further cooperation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Many thanks; in the meantime there was one more request to ask a question, but it was withdrawn, so there are no more questions and the handling of the fourth question ends.