Interpellation concerning the abuse of power by the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) in connection with the unlawful suppression of freedom of speech and expression (No. 620)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-04-02 00:18
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 39
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 44m
AI Summaries: 39/39 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
A prominent item on the agenda concerned the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid regarding the abuse of power by the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in connection with the unlawful suppression of freedom of speech and expression. The interpellation draws attention to the proceedings initiated due to the symbolic memorial from 1949, the flag of the Estonian SSR, and the resulting context, as well as the legality of these proceedings. The open discussion also reviewed the Harju County Court decision that entered into force on 12.01.2024, which annulled the misdemeanor rulings issued against Jaak Valge and Andres Aule, and addressed substantive questions regarding the legality of PPA measures and the interpretation of the limits of the right to demonstrate. Furthermore, the long-term context was highlighted—the display of the ESSR flag and the interpretation of the connections between demonstration and national symbols—which has generated widespread political and legal debate. The focus is on the protection of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in a democratic society and the role of police and law enforcement agencies in guaranteeing these rights.
In the second part, the discussion continued with the Minister of the Interior’s responses and a broad range of questions from party representatives: how to ensure in the future that the PPA operates in accordance with constitutional rights, and what measures are planned to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Additionally, issues were raised concerning the control exercised during demonstrations and possible aspects of disciplinary liability regarding the accountability of officials. Finally, attention was directed to an open mic discussion, which allowed participants to freely present their thoughts and draw attention to ongoing issues of law enforcement and democracy.
Decisions Made 1
No formal decisions were adopted during the agenda item; the process of debate and inquiry was aimed at providing clarifications and discussing legal and political interpretations, rather than adopting specific resolutions.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Varro Vooglaid (pid ehjpLK1FIak). He represented the submitter of the interpellation and raised deeper questions concerning the legal basis for the PPA's (Police and Border Guard Board) activities and the principles governing the protection of constitutional rights. His position is described as "other" (non-conservative/not directly affiliated with a single political party), as his role was primarily that of the interpellation submitter and involved leading public discussion and legal critique.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu is addressing, as the ninth item on the agenda, the interpellation submitted by Varro Vooglaid on March 7th concerning the abuse of power by the PPA in connection with the unlawful suppression of freedom of speech and opinion.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid thanked the chairman of the session, recalled the decision of the Harju County Court which annulled the conviction in the misdemeanor proceedings issued by the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) against Jaak Valge and Andres Aule concerning the public display of the Estonian SSR flag in Tallinn's Old Town, stated that the accusations were baseless and that the PPA had fallen into patterns of abuse of power, and posed questions regarding how it is possible for the PPA to initiate misdemeanor proceedings in the case of a peaceful demonstration, who is responsible, what is planned for the future, and whether the Minister of the Interior should take responsibility and resign to ensure respect for citizens' constitutional rights.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the previous speaker] and asks Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets to return to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the interpellation.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Before the Riigikogu, Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets confirmed that the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) had a legal basis for initiating misdemeanor proceedings in connection with the peaceful demonstration, and that in the case involving the Estonian SSR flag, the actions were assessed using four central criteria (the meaning of the symbol, time, place, and manner). He stressed that the official would be held accountable if the initiation of the proceedings had been unlawful. He also stated that in the future, the constitutional right of citizens to protest must be protected, and he does not see the need to resign.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked the Minister and called upon Martin Helme to ask questions.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme criticized the behavior of the police, recalling that the fines imposed on him were overturned by a court decision, and called Kristel Proos a serial imposer of illegal fines. He further questioned how such a person could be employed by the police and whether she has been subjected to disciplinary action or internal oversight.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that one must look at the person's entire body of work and not just the specific issues that have been highlighted, because sometimes the court determines the circumstances differently, meaning the proceedings cannot be terminated, and the police are not allowed to intimidate people; he will forward your question to the Police Chief and ask him the same thing.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas accuses the Minister of the Interior and the police of unprofessional conduct concerning a flag displaying a forbidden symbol, claiming that the proceedings were initiated due to a complaint filed by the chairman of the Writers' Union, rather than because of the flag itself, and that the court subsequently overturned all police claims.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Henn Põlluaas to speak.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that he has clarified the circumstances and presented his ministerial perspective, adding that he did not review the matter solely by himself and does not know all the details, or people's feelings or reactions, but he has already provided an explanation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks Anti Poolamets to come forward.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets criticizes the fact that the state neither remembers history nor manages to draw comparisons with the Soviet era, and leaves monuments dedicated to the perpetrators of the deportations—which are forbidden by law—standing. He then asks when the government will finally remove them.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that we have taken down and relocated many monuments, including the famous Narva tank and seven other monuments from the Soviet Union period, and this will continue in the future, but he does not intend to take up or wave the flag of the Estonian SSR in protest.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asserts that the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) acted unlawfully and that the court subsequently overturned the fine. He stresses that the use of the flag during the demonstration was known prior to the decisions being made, not afterward, and that others should apologize and amend their conduct.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This is a brief call: now is your time.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid claims that a decision to issue a fine was made, and that this is clearly misconduct.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that the demonstration had not been registered and the owner's consent had not been obtained. The police did not know at the time of the incident that it was a demonstration, and in similar situations, suspicions would arise and a reaction would follow, and the first question would not have been whether it was a performance.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar makes a request to Martin Helme.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accused opponents of political manipulation, claiming that the discussion surrounding the bas-relief of the deportee is a protest and that the police abuse of power targeting EKRE and Isamaa is obvious, while simultaneously referencing Lauri Läänemets's defense of the Narva tank.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets confirmed that, as minister, he neither attempts nor is able to politically influence any individual or political party through subordinate institutions, nor does he give orders to the police. He ensures that institutions carry out their work, and if there is reason to suspect a violation of the law, he will ensure the necessary proceedings are carried out. Furthermore, he rejects the assumptions reported in the media, emphasizing the importance of the court's assessment and guiding the future work of the police.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Jaak Valge to the stage.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge thanks Varro Vooglaid for the interpellation and asks why the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) initiated proceedings regarding the placement of the Estonian SSR flag next to the bas-relief of the deportations perpetrator, but did not initiate proceedings regarding the flag used to adorn the President of the Republic of Estonia.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that he was unaware of the incident or the circumstances surrounding its commission, and was therefore unable to respond.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Kert Kingo to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo stressed that, given the extensive authority of the police, there must be extremely strict oversight and guaranteed accountability for every infringement, and asked the minister what steps have been taken to detect abuses of power and ensure adherence to the principles of the Estonian rule of law.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that he is not aware of all the police officer's previous activities and cannot say whether they constituted violations, as he is only hearing about them from you right now. He added that if there has been cause, he has initiated some proceedings concerning the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) to verify what the PPA is currently engaged in.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Leo Kunnas to the stage.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Leo Kunnas raises the question of what should be done with the Juhan Smuul bas-relief, as well as the street and bridge named after him, now that it has been demonstrably proven that he participated in the deportations—even though his Stalinist past was already known—and who should be responsible for handling these issues.
Siseminister Lauri Läänemets
AI Summary
Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets stated that he is not an expert and has not yet taken a stance on the issue of the bas-relief or the names of bridges and streets. He added that the Tallinn City Council has the opportunity to make proposals, and decisions on this matter are ultimately made by local governments, not by members of the government.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the Minister of the Interior, announces that there are no further questions, opens the debate, and invites the questioner, Varro Vooglaid, to the Riigikogu rostrum first.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid highlights that the minister's answers are unsatisfactory and claims that constitutional rights are being violated by the police's illegal restriction of the demonstration and the subsequent fine decisions that were later annulled by the court. He argues that clear corrections are needed within the PPA (Police and Border Guard Board) to protect the freedom of assembly.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks if an extension is desired.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He is asking for more time.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar requests three minutes of additional time.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid warns that Estonia must not revert to the Soviet-era system, detailing a court case where the police and the procedural officer attempted to justify misdemeanor rulings by lying and referencing a prohibited symbol. He simultaneously stresses that the ESSR flag is not a prohibited symbol in Estonia and demands disciplinary action and accountability for such unlawful decisions.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker gave thanks, called Martin Helme to the Riigikogu rostrum, and Helme requested three minutes of extra time.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme accuses Kristel Proos and the government of abusing the power held by law enforcement agencies, stressing that the minister must intervene. If this pattern systematically repeats, either the Director General of the Police Board or even the minister must be dismissed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair declared today's agenda concluded and announced that, following the fall of the gavel, anyone wishing to do so may now register to speak during the open microphone session.