A campaign spreading fear of war on the streets of Tallinn
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-02-21 14:32
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 16
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 17m
AI Summaries: 16/16 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The third item on the agenda concerned Varro Vooglaid’s interpellation to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets (acting as Prime Minister) regarding the controversial poster campaign displayed in Tallinn (Mustamäe, Lasnamäe, Õismäe). The posters depicted buildings bombed out in the war, which were physically placed behind the actual buildings. Vooglaid considered the campaign inappropriate, especially during the week of the Republic’s anniversary, and emphasized its negative impact on people’s, particularly children’s, mental health. He suspected it was a government strategic communication (stratcom) project designed to mobilize the population behind the government through fear, given its low popularity.
Minister Läänemets categorically denied the involvement of the government or structures under its authority in the campaign, calling it art. In his assessment, the purpose of the work was to evoke compassion and serve as a reminder that the war and suffering continue in Ukraine. Läänemets rejected the accusations of causing psychological terror, stressing that art is perceived differently—either as fear or as a cry for help. In follow-up questions, Varro Vooglaid and Martin Helme accused the minister of cynicism and applying double standards, pointing to the Police and Border Guard Board’s (PPA) inaction regarding the posters compared to previous incidents (e.g., the ESSR flag action). Martin Helme directly called the campaign a psycho- and information operation funded by taxpayer money, to which Läänemets responded by accusing EKRE of skillfully carrying out information operations themselves.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Martin Helme was highly active, labeling the poster campaign a psycho- and information operation and accusing the government of employing cynical scare tactics. His position is right-wing.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The third question submitted is addressed to Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets, acting in the capacity of the Prime Minister, and was presented by our good colleague Varro Vooglaid.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid is criticizing the large posters depicting destroyed houses that have been visible on the streets of Tallinn this week, deeming it inappropriate during the week of the anniversary of the Republic of Estonia and viewing it as a strategic campaign serving the interests of the government. He is asking the minister for unambiguous confirmation that the campaign and its funding from the Cultural Endowment are not connected to the government, and that it does not affect people's psychological health.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
He emphasizes that the government is not involved in this issue, and that this is art whose posters resemble Russia's attack in Ukraine. While they might appeal to some Russians, they also cause fear and serve as a reminder that some people are having a difficult time. He also stresses that the earlier decision to remove [the item/information] from the Rescue Board's manual was a mistake.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Varro Vooglaid to ask a clarifying question.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid expresses deep concern that the poster campaign utilizes fear and national divisions, resembles the post-COVID pattern, and is causing psychological terror among children. He also asks whether the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) intends to initiate proceedings against this project now.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Lauri Läänemets said that the government has not made a decision regarding the use of the Estonian SSR flag or the permitting of New Year's Eve fireworks, and the responsibility for this issue rests with the PPA and the City of Tallinn. Furthermore, although the artists' posters might generate various interpretations, he sees in them compassion and concern for the people of Ukraine, and urged everyone to avoid building up a logic of fear.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi announces a point of order and asks that the microphone be given to Mart Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme raised a procedural question regarding how to proceed if someone is disturbed, whether the janitor should file a complaint with the police, and what steps to take next. He also noted that the minister's answer remained vague and that this was not the direct responsibility of the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks his colleague, noting that the question was not procedural and was entered into the transcript, and now proceeds to ask Martin Helme a clarifying question.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme is leveling accusations regarding the use of information and psychological operations, as well as a campaign of hysteria and fear generated by posters—a campaign funded by taxpayer money and for which there is no necessary punishment. He makes these claims while pointing to the living conditions of a Ukrainian refugee family in Mustamäe and the ongoing debate surrounding the monument dedicated to the organizer of deportations.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that he does not consider the allegation a psychological or information operation, and that the artistic posters are intended to evoke sympathy and help people who have fled Ukraine, rather than being part of a state information operation. While he acknowledges EKRE's proficiency in this field, he disagrees with their claim.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks his colleagues, explains the standard procedure for questions, and concludes the agenda item, stating that he will take two procedural questions, and then asks Kalle Grünthal to pose his question.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal seeks the advice of the presiding officer regarding the handling of advertising that fails to meet the requirements of the Advertising Act and exploits the impact of the emergency situation on people's decision-making ability. He also asks how one should react if a minister lies in their response, and whether such conduct is permissible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks his colleague, explains that this is not related to the rules governing the conduct of the sitting, and addresses Helle-Moonika Helme.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helme believes that the minister leveling moral criticism is unfair because he himself lacks the moral authority, and his party has repeatedly been funded by money belonging to Jevgeni Ossinovski’s father, which was earned in Putin’s Russia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi emphasized that this was not related to the rules of the session, that differing value systems explain why people belong to different political parties, and that personal reproaches must not be made; instead, only viewpoints should be criticized, not people.