Inquiry regarding the Võru shooting range (no 737)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary sitting.
Date: 2025-05-12 20:53
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 28
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 45m
AI Summaries: 28/28 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The fourth item on the Riigikogu’s agenda was the question posed by Priit Sibula and Rain Epler regarding the Võru shooting range (no. 737), followed by the Minister of the Interior's response. The question’s presenters highlighted local concerns such as the situation at the Võru shooting range and potential wide-ranging state defense investment opportunities, which include recreational and training opportunities following the Finnish model, and cooperation between various agencies. The representatives emphasized the need to clarify the investment schedule, budget, and stage, and took up in their speeches topics relating to the renovation of the Põlva shooting range and the possibility of providing additional opportunities for service within the framework of the wide-ranging state defense for various regions.
This question combines local community and state-level needs: the main objective is to clarify how the development of the tactical building and indoor shooting range complex planned in the Võru area near the eastern border, and the cooperation affecting broader areas, will be realized, and when and how these projects may continue in the Estonian state budget and development plan. Several questions were raised regarding the investment schedule, the precise stage of preparation, alternatives (such as the renovation of the Põlva shooting range), and the inclusion of Finnish experience, as well as discussing how to create shooting ranges accessible for both defense and civilian use. At the conclusion of the discussion, the Minister emphasized the need to involve local governments within the context of the wide-ranging state defense plan and to consider future operations in various regions, for the sphere of defense and rescue services.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made; the discussion concluded without a concrete agreement or timeline regarding the construction or reconstruction of shooting ranges. Partial conclusions and recommendations for further steps will lead to a further period of discussion and the need for additional data and coordination between the Ministry of the Interior and local municipalities. Next steps will be addressed through separate funding and planning phases, and, if necessary, additional questions will be drafted or supplementary parts of a response to an inquiry will be prepared.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Priit Sibul (pid GdeZmpb9biU), the inquiry's compiler. His presentation demonstrated a leadership position in the discussion, and his role was primarily that of a leading inquirer and questioner, although the discussion touched on Rain Epler and other participants in several parts. Position: other (not directly a left- or right-wing representative role in this context).
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is set to debate the interpellation (No. 737) submitted by Priit Sibul and Rain Epler on March 27, 2025, concerning the Võru shooting range. Priit Sibul will first deliver the presentation, and the minister will then provide a response.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul emphasizes the importance of the Võru and Põlva shooting ranges for security and regional viability, and asks the minister specific questions regarding when and under what project this investment appeared in the state budget, what stage it is currently in, and whether the renovation of the Põlva shooting range had also been considered.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The address stresses that your time has come and it is time to take action.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul asks whether the Ministry of the Interior plans to build additional roundabouts in line with Finland's example and whether there are plans to renovate the Põlva roundabout.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech contains a note of thanks and states that it responds to Interior Minister Igor Taro.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Before the Riigikogu, Interior Minister Igor Taro said that the Võru shooting range is part of the broad-based national defense investment plan and must be completed by the end of 2027 to create a multifunctional police training complex, while the development of the Põlva shooting range is slow due to local government ownership and community needs and requires greater involvement. It is planned to study and apply the Finnish model and to cooperate with the Minister of Defense and the PPA, and finally, Anne Vasarikku was thanked.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller invites further questions and asks Priit Sibul to answer.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul raises the question, in light of the 2022 development plan, whether shooting ranges are truly niche products and whether the resources allocated for them and regional accessibility (Põlva and Southeast Estonia versus Pärnu) are justified.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Igor Taro said that the needs of the PPA must be addressed regionally, by trusting the PPA’s own people and creating in each prefecture a multifunctional training center (for example Võru in southeastern Estonia), which facilitates training of the border guard and other units, and he stressed that the broad concept of national defense is bigger than PPA training and must also take into account the future of the Pärnu and Paikuse school and the sporting traditions of Põlva.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asked Varro Vooglaid to step onto the stage.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid emphasizes that Estonia should have a unified network of shooting ranges that would be accessible to both the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) and to all gun owners, including in rural areas and county centers, while asking whether every county center has a range and whether there is a plan to expand, and stresses the need to establish outdoor firing ranges more quickly and to treat this as a national defense priority, so that people would have a place close to home.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Igor Taro emphasized that improving shooting sports skills requires offering diverse opportunities, including not only the shooting ranges in county centers but also private developments and multifunctional complexes at Võru and PPA facilities. These complexes, for example, would feature a 270-degree firing sector and additional training exercises for entering buildings and moving on stairs. The need to amend the regulation governing these facilities was also discussed.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invites Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler criticizes the weak political leadership and the ongoing camera scandal, emphasizing the need to view matters more holistically. He cites the dual use of defense capability as an example and questions what development potential Põlva's infrastructure might possess.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
They said that there is development potential and that rapid investments cannot be made due to ownership issues; the PPA development concept shows strong leadership, focuses on border protection in Southeast Estonia, and ensures the training and readiness of police officers and border guards to withstand hybrid threats and significant firepower before a military conflict.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the questioning, announced the opening of the debate, and requested Priit Sibul to represent the interpellators.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul said that today's discussion did not give the people of Põlva a clear perspective, and a broader framework must be laid out for rings and firing positions, to use auxiliary police and volunteers, to take Finland as a model, and to review both the requirements for rings and firing positions and the amendments to the firearms act, so that the ring planned for Võru would be useful and fundable for everyone.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller asked Rain Epler to come up to the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler called for seeing Southeast Estonia as a single defensive line, where cooperation would not be based on party ties, and to discuss the dual use of the shooting range planned in Põlva and a sensible distribution of resources so that the region's security would be strengthened.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller asks Anti Allasel to take the floor.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas stressed that Southeastern Estonia requires significant investment in defense and internal security in the coming years, including utilizing the police, border guard, and rescue services building located in Võru as a regional crisis center, as well as renovating the Põlva project shooting range. Furthermore, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, he intends to convince decision-makers that these solutions would strengthen the region's defense capabilities.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
He thanks him and makes a request to Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid urged trusting citizens to handle weapons, to develop a broad gun culture, and to strengthen national defense, and to create at least one shooting range in every county, regularly offering gun owners opportunities to refresh their skills, for example by opening old quarries as shooting ranges once a month.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
In accordance with Arvo Aller's decision, to immediately issue a counter-speech, because the minister wanted to participate in negotiations, and Anti Allas was invited to deliver a counter-speech, since the Social Democrats were mentioned.
Anti Allas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Anti Allas said that the Social Democrats want more people in Estonia who can handle a weapon professionally, and therefore many people could have a weapon, but they do not support American-style easy accessibility and he emphasized that the country should be defended through Kaitseliit training and auxiliary police.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Minister finally wanted his final word too.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro said that the fate of the Põlva shooting range depends on the priorities of the local government, since a municipal building is currently being built for four million euros, and it would have been possible to fix up the shooting range, but in the future he will undertake everything that is possible, and he emphasized that pitting Võru and Põlva against each other is not appropriate, and after the meeting he is optimistic.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller announced that there were no further requests to speak, the discussions were concluded, and today's fourth agenda item had been completed.