Inquiry Regarding the Kopli Commando (no. 774)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th sitting, plenary session
Date: 2025-09-22 22:52
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 49
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 35m
AI Summaries: 49/49 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) debated the interpellation (No. 774) concerning the closure of the Kopli Rescue Command, submitted by Riigikogu members Vadim Belobrovtsev, Andrei Korobeinik, Lauri Laats, Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, and Vladimir Arhipov on May 13, 2025. Vadim Belobrovtsev (Centre Party), speaking on behalf of the interpellators, emphasized the continuing relevance of the topic, highlighting the rapid population growth in North Tallinn (projected up to 100,000 residents) and the specific characteristics of the area (peninsula, wooden houses, industrial enterprises), which significantly increase fire risks. He criticized the decision made by former Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets to close the command at the beginning of 2024, which aimed to save 800,000 euros annually, noting that the Tallinn City Government was prepared to cover half of that amount. Belobrovtsev also referred to statements by former Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev that millions of euros remained unused by the Ministry of the Interior in the same budget line, suggesting that the reason for the closure was not a lack of funds but a political choice.
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro responded that the closure of the Kopli command was a difficult but unavoidable decision resulting from cuts in the state budget strategy. He explained that the Ministry of the Interior managed to limit the action to closing only one command instead of the initially planned closure of three commands and the layoff of 50 police officers, by optimizing internal resources. Taro emphasized that the availability of rescue services in North Tallinn is ensured by the readiness of the Kesklinna (City Centre) and Lilleküla commands, supplemented by the Kopli Voluntary Rescue Command, which provides 24/7 life-saving capability. The Minister defended the long-term optimization of the internal security sector, noting that this has allowed for an increase in the minimum wage for rescue workers. He confirmed that the rescue network is continuously analyzed according to population changes, but the restoration of the professional Kopli command is not currently planned. A sharp dispute arose during the debate regarding the initiator of the cutback decision, where Raimond Kaljulaid (SDE) drew attention to the 2021 cutback decision, which was made during the tenure of Centre Party Minister of the Interior Kristian Jaani.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller proceeded to the eighth item on the agenda, which was Interpellation No. 774 submitted by members of the Riigikogu concerning the Kopli unit, and invited Vadim Belobrovtsev to the podium to deliver the report on behalf of the questioners.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Riigikogu moves on to the eighth item, which concerns Interpellation No. 774, submitted on May 13, 2025, regarding the Kopli Rescue Station, and Vadim Belobrovtsev is invited by the interpellators to give the report.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev sharply criticizes the closure of the Kopli rescue station at the beginning of 2024, stressing that this step, allegedly taken under the guise of cost cutting, was in reality a political choice made by the Minister of the Interior, rather than a financial inevitability. The speaker points out that the closure of the station has significantly reduced the safety of residents in North Tallinn—a rapidly developing, densely populated area characterized by wooden housing. He cites the tragic fire that occurred in December as an example, which confirmed the high-risk factor of the region and the necessity of the station.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev emphasizes that the closure of the Kopli rescue station at the beginning of 2024 endangers the safety of North Tallinn residents and increases the workload of the Lilleküla rescue station, thereby initiating an ongoing political debate regarding funding and the accessibility of rescue services.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The main message of the speech is that there is no time for extensions here.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Last Thursday, the Tallinn City Council adopted the general plan for Põhja-Tallinn, which foresees the addition of several tens of thousands of residents soon and further increases the associated risks. Consequently, they approached the Minister of the Interior regarding the impact of closing the Kopli rescue station and the possibilities for its restoration.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev pointed out that the general plan for Põhja-Tallinn adopted by the Tallinn City Council will bring several tens of thousands of new residents to the area, which significantly increases the risks. For this reason, they addressed the Minister of the Interior with a question regarding the saga surrounding the closure of the Kopli rescue station and the necessity of restoring it.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller expresses his thanks, announces that additional minutes have been granted during the course of the debate, and asks Interior Minister Igor Taro to respond to the interpellation.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the preceding debate, clarified the procedural rules for obtaining additional minutes, and subsequently yielded the floor to Minister of the Interior Igor Taro so that he could respond to the submitted query.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro justified the closure of the Kopli rescue station as the result of a difficult but unavoidable budget cut, a measure that helped prevent more extensive damage to internal security. He stressed that the availability of rescue services in North Tallinn remains guaranteed thanks to nearby professional stations and the successfully established Kopli volunteer rescue team, which has allowed them to maintain 24/7 life-saving capability. Furthermore, he added that optimizing the network was critical for raising the salary levels of the rescuers.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro confirmed that the closure of the Kopli Rescue Station was an unavoidable decision due to state budget cuts for 2022–2025, and although the lasting impact on internal security is minor, the Kopli volunteer team, along with the City Centre and Lilleküla stations, ensures continuous life-saving services, and further adjustments can be made in the future if necessary.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Aller said there were a few questions and called upon Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov criticizes the attempt to link the increase in the number of rescue detachments with lower salaries, dismissing it as speculation and a flawed approach. He further faults the decision-makers for the chaotic handling of the closure of the Kopli rescue station and its replacement with volunteers, and demands clarity regarding the future plans for Tallinn's rescue service given the growing population.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov criticizes the idea of increasing the number of rescue teams while maintaining low pay as speculation, praises the rescuers and the Kopli voluntary rescue team, accuses the decision-makers of ignorance, and asks how Tallinn will cope with this in the future under conditions of a growing population.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro stressed that the rescue network is continuously re-evaluated in line with evolving threats and developments. He noted that while previous decisions involved difficult choices, the optimization of internal resources allowed them to avoid the extensive cuts initially planned (up to three rescue stations and 50 police officers), thus preserving a significant portion of their operational capacity.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
The consensus is that the emergency response network is not set in stone, and both needs and capabilities are evaluated based on shifts in population size and threats. Consequently, capacity is increased and improvements are implemented when necessary. Although the cuts may have affected up to three command units and 50 police officers, internal resources were optimized, and the majority of the operational capacity was preserved.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller calls upon Vadim Belobrovtsev to speak.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is questioning the justification for closing the Kopli rescue station, which was cited as being due to a lack of funds. He references information published by former Minister of Finance Mart Võrklaev, according to which the Ministry of the Interior left nearly 3.6 million euros unused in the budget line for rescue operations, even though the closure of the station was only expected to save 800,000 euros. He asks whether this was a case of incompetence or a deliberate political direction.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev pointed out that nearly 3.6 million euros remained unused under the 2024 budget line item "Rescue on land and inland waterways," but the reason for closing the Kopli station was not a lack of funds. Instead, the question is whether this was a conscious cost-saving policy or simply incompetence.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro rejected the accusations of incompetence, explaining that the budget residuals had been mistakenly interpreted as temporary, transferable resources (for instance, due to the postponement of procurements), rather than permanent funding. Consequently, it was impossible to secure permanent financing to cover the budget gap, and the decision to scale back the fire departments was made after thorough analysis and with a heavy heart.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro stated that this is not an assessment of incompetence, but rather an erroneous interpretation regarding the purpose of the funds and the budget deficit; after thorough analysis, it became clear that there is no permanent funding available to fill the gap, and those who scaled back only one unit instead of three made this decision after careful consideration and with a heavy heart.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid is asking the Minister of the Interior to explain the reasons why the Centre Party—which was in government at the time and held the Interior Minister's portfolio—decided in 2021 to implement a budget cut that ultimately led to the closure of the Kopli rescue station.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invited Raimond Kaljulaid to speak.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid is asking for clarification regarding the cut made in 2021, which led to the closure of the Kopli station, and the Centre Party’s role in that decision.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro expressed his thanks and noted that he hadn't delved into history as much as he had into the year 2021.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro thanked the audience and noted that in his address, he had not delved excessively into the past or the events of 2021.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asks when the bill to criminalize bad thoughts is going to be resubmitted, and notes that they aren't planning to reopen the Kopli fire station. Times are tough and people are dragging their feet, but eventually, a choice has to be made.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits addressed the Minister of the Interior to confirm the absence of plans to reopen the Kopli station, and subsequently inquired when the draft legislation for the criminalization of 'bad thoughts' would be resubmitted, stressing that in difficult times, the necessary choices must be made despite opposition.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller invites Peeter Ernits to speak.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro expressed confusion regarding the topic of discussion, noting that he didn't understand what was being talked about, and asked for clarification on whether the agenda item (referencing the Kopli issue) was still the same.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Interior Minister Igor Taro thanks [them] for the question, says he doesn't quite understand, and asks if the agenda item is still the same, mentioning Kopli.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller replied yes to the inquiry from the Kopli unit.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
Minister of the Interior Igor Taro points out that the ongoing discussion has strayed from the original topic and is now focused on something entirely different.
Siseminister Igor Taro
AI Summary
He/She said that the current discussion is actually about a completely different topic, and thanked them for the question.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman announced that the questions had ended and opened the debate; Vadim Belobrovtsev will speak first on behalf of the interpellators.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the round of questions, thanked the participants, officially opened the discussions, and first gave the floor to Vadim Belobrovtsev, the representative of the interpellators.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is urging Interior Minister Igor Taro to swiftly reconsider the decision to close the Kopli fire station, stressing that the population of North Tallinn is growing drastically due to new detailed zoning plans, thereby significantly increasing security risks in the area. He criticizes the former interior minister and the government for prioritizing salary hikes for officials instead of keeping the station operational, despite the necessary funds (800,000 euros) being available in the budget and the City of Tallinn being prepared to cover half of that sum. Consequently, this was a choice of principle, not a financial necessity.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev called upon the Minister of the Interior to review the decision regarding the closure of the Kopli rescue command and to assess it in light of the growing population and increasing risks in North Tallinn, recalling that Tallinn had been prepared to cover part of the costs, and indicating that the decision was political and should now be reconsidered in the context of the role of volunteers.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller requests that three extra minutes be granted.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev highlights the dedication and sense of mission among the volunteers, warns against the state becoming dependent on volunteerism, and calls on the government to consider restoring the Kopli rescue station and setting priorities for the rescue network, especially considering the ongoing crisis in education and teacher qualifications.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev acknowledges the dedicated, mission-oriented work of volunteers, but he expresses deep concern regarding the state's excessive reliance on them. He points to examples such as auxiliary police officers, volunteer rescuers, and the education system, where unqualified individuals are hired due to teacher shortages. He criticizes the government's priorities, which resulted, for instance, in the closure of the Kopli rescue unit and its replacement with a volunteer brigade. He demands that the Minister of the Interior reorganize the rescue network and restore the Kopli unit.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The Vice-Chair thanks the speaker and invites Raimond Kaljulaid to take the floor next.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid rejects the criticism leveled by the Centre Party, emphasizing that the 2021 rescue service cuts were actually implemented by Centre Party minister Kristian Jaani. In contrast, Social Democrat Lauri Läänemets mitigated the consequences of those cuts, increased rescuers' salaries by over 30%, and initiated the development of substantive civil protection—an area previous governments had neglected. Furthermore, the speaker slams the Centre Party for irresponsible populism, which constantly promises to increase spending while simultaneously lowering taxes, and advises them to stop their obsessive and tired attacks on the Social Democrats.
Raimond Kaljulaid
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Raimond Kaljulaid emphasized that the 2021 cuts should have been explained and funding guaranteed for rescue services. He recalled Lauri Läänemets's pay rise as assistance for the rescuers, warned against populism, and said it was time to change the record.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller expressed his thanks, noting that Vadim Belobrovtsev’s name had been mentioned a couple of times, and requested a response statement.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev stated that he dislikes Kaja Kallas's government, citing the example of the rise in rescuers' salaries from 2019 to 2021 and the subsequent halt after 2022, and noting that government changes and ministerial instructions lead to a paradoxical situation.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev is criticizing Kaja Kallas’s government for freezing the salaries of rescuers. He points out that unlike the period when the Center Party was in power, during which wages rose regularly, under Lauri Läänemets as Minister of the Interior, salaries haven't been raised by a single cent for two consecutive years. Consequently, rescuers are now eagerly awaiting the promised pay increase.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the debate on the eighth item on the agenda after the minister confirmed that he had no further comments, and announced the passing of the agenda item.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Arvo Aller concluded the debate, informed the chamber that the Minister did not wish to add anything further, and announced that we had completed the eighth item on the agenda.