Interpellation concerning business activities originating in Estonia and related to Russia during the War in Ukraine (No. 598)
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-03-11 19:45
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 43
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 44m
AI Summaries: 43/43 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item addressed Inquiry No. 598, submitted by Riigikogu members Urmas Reinsalu, Helir-Valdor Seeder, Priit Sibul, Mart Maastik, Tõnis Lukas, and Jaanus Karilaid, concerning extensive business activity originating from Estonia and linked to Russia during the war in Ukraine. The core of the inquiry was the question of why Estonian companies, including those connected to high-ranking politicians or their financiers (such as Oleg Ossinovski), continue massive trade with Russia, and whether the Government of the Republic has taken steps to limit or prevent this activity, particularly regarding the provision of state subsidies to these companies. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas reiterated her condemnatory stance on all Russia-related business activity, deeming it morally reprehensible, even if it does not violate existing sanctions. She stressed that she has repeatedly proposed the imposition of a full trade embargo at the European Union level and in cooperation with border states, but has failed to find consensus for this. Kallas rejected accusations regarding the continuation of her family’s business activities in Russia, citing the rapid divestment of her husband’s stake. The opposition (primarily Isamaa and EKRE) sharply criticized the Prime Minister for the lack of substantive answers regarding the limitation of state subsidies and the imposition of national sanctions, viewing the government's inaction as a security risk and a moral inconsistency.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were adopted during the discussion of the interpellation. It was an agenda item intended for informative and political debate.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was the submitter of the interpellation, Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa), who gave three speeches, including the introduction of the query and two long addresses during the debate phase. Reinsalu represented the opposition, challenging the capability and moral compass of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform Party) and the Government of the Republic regarding the prevention of business activities linked to Russia. He demanded concrete answers regarding the government's stance on restricting the granting of state subsidies and imposing national sanctions, criticizing Kallas for avoiding substantive responses.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Under the third item on the agenda, the interpellation submitted on February 5, 2024, concerning business activities originating in Estonia and linked to Russia during the war in Ukraine (No. 598) will be discussed. Colleague Urmas Reinsalu has been invited to the Riigikogu rostrum to present the report.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asked the Prime Minister whether the facts presented in the media regarding large-scale business activity between Estonia and Russia and the support provided to it are accurate, and what steps the government plans to take to limit this activity, evaluate it, and introduce potential international sanctions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker of the Riigikogu Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the members] and invites the esteemed Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the questions posed by the interpellators.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that Estonia stresses the need to end the financing of Russia’s aggression, seeks a joint, EU-level total trade embargo and a ban on transit to Russia, and believes that the impact of individual sanctions must go hand-in-hand with sectoral measures, having simultaneously submitted proposals to the European Commission for the 14th sanctions package.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi offered his thanks and stated that the answers were at least as specific as the questions, before asking Urmas Reinsalu to present his questions.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu asked why Estonian state aid is being given to companies that continue doing business with Russia, and he also asked when the government made a proposal to impose an embargo and whether the governments of Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, and Poland have rejected that proposal.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas emphasizes that peaceful forums with other nations are necessary, and that in the Riigikogu hall, they do not discuss who expressed which viewpoint. She also confirms that at every European Council summit, she has put forward both a transit proposal and a trade embargo proposal; the next summit is in March.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks Riina Solman to come forward.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman claims that the Prime Minister confirmed her family was not engaged in business activities related to Russia, but that her husband was involved as of August, citing photos taken during a visit to the company and the government's website, and questioning whether she condemned her own husband or merely other entrepreneurs doing business with Russia.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas condemns doing business with Russia and notes that the following day her husband divested his minority stake in a transport company which assisted in transporting goods between two factories, and she considers this a very clear moral and realistic assessment of that activity.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Ants Frosch raises a contradiction in his speech: At the European level, common action is desired regarding sanctions and border issues, yet Estonia has simultaneously been portrayed in the international media as a key supporter of Macron’s “boots on the ground” initiative, and he believes that any military presence should involve a smaller contingent.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Ants Frosch to come forward.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas emphasizes that she has consistently championed the embargo and has no intention of backing away from it. She also explains the purpose behind the confusion surrounding Macron’s proposals, and stresses that European leaders must cooperate for the sake of Ukraine’s victory and European security, both jointly and in smaller groups, including missions with various partners.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi called Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme pointed out the inconsistency of the state's policy, noting that the Unemployment Insurance Fund is posting job advertisements for truck drivers traveling to Russia, even as the government stresses that the transport of goods in the direction of Russia must cease.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanked the audience.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme asks how one should comment on the fact that a state agency is advertising job offers aimed at Russia.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that the Unemployment Insurance Fund brokers job offers that she neither knows about nor reads, and that there are activities that are both legally prohibited and morally reprehensible, for which accountability should be demanded from those companies that are still carrying them out.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi invited Evelin Poolamets to speak.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets, citing an Äripäev investigation, raised the question of whether the import of wood products originating from Russia continues despite sanctions, now moving to Estonia via Uzbekistan, and whether the prime minister is capable of halting the sanctioned trade between Estonia and Russia.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that the timber sector has been hit hard due to the sharp drop in imports of Russian-origin goods. This has resulted in price hikes, reduced demand, decreased competitiveness, and job losses in regions where the industry has a significant presence.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker invites Martin Helme to take the floor.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme stated that Kaja Kallas’s narrative is unreliable, and the facts point to major errors or outright lies. He further added that in the context of the war in Ukraine and the sanctions, business has shrunk in one sector in Estonia, while transit has grown explosively in another, and he questioned whether the sanctions policy in the European Union and Estonia has actually achieved its objectives.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
He said that the war was ongoing and the goals had not been met.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme claims that the war is ongoing while business continues, including the export of manganese to Russia and timber imported to Estonia from Kazakhstan. He then asks whether the sanctions have fulfilled their purpose and whether funding received from the oligarchs of coalition partners is morally and legally condemnable.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is just a brief request to invite Mart Helme to speak.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Kaja Kallas conceded that she has also given her views in the media and that such things are morally reprehensible.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
A request was made to Rain Epler during the speech.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asked the Prime Minister whether she only trusts negative media coverage, and requested clarification on the media issue, pointing out that last week she had complained from the podium and proceeded to list everything she had done successfully.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said she had no reason to doubt the work of the press.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Prime Minister, announces that there are no further questions, opens the debate, and invites Anti Poolamets to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets requests an extension of time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests that the discussion last for three more minutes.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets accuses the coalition of involvement in business with Russia and the 'blood business,' and calls on Kaja Kallas and the entire government to resign so that Estonia can restore its ethical compass and international reputation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the previous speaker/audience] and invites Urmas Reinsalu to speak.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu issued a strong demand for the prime minister to provide Estonia's official position and take concrete measures concerning Russia-related business, the utilization of state and European Union subsidies, and sanctions with neighboring countries. He stressed the need to differentiate between moral judgment and legal compliance, and called for the government to rapidly formulate policy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He/She briefly says that time is up and we need to stop.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The presenter is asking for three more minutes.
Urmas Reinsalu
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Urmas Reinsalu accuses the Prime Minister and the government of excessive secrecy and insufficient transparency stemming from the conflict of interest among coalition parties, highlighting the sanctioning of Belarusian metal transit and the Russian business—valued at nearly 800 million euros—registered in the name of Ossinovski's sister; he notes that the Tax and Customs Board provides no information, even as journalists extract data from Russian customs documents, and calls for the necessity of candor and democratic control.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Mart Helme to speak.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme states that the collaboration between the Russian elite and the KGB/FSB, along with the criminality of the oligarchs, is a major security problem. He argues that a striking example of this is the prime minister's spouse conducting business with Russia, and this threat will persist as long as the prime minister remains in office.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi expresses his thanks and concludes both the debate and the consideration of this agenda item.