War and Peace
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, information briefing
Date: 2024-04-03 16:15
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 15
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 13m
AI Summaries: 15/15 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This current sixth agenda item during the Riigikogu session addressed the themes of war and peace, focusing primarily on issues concerning Ukrainian war refugees in Estonia, particularly the presence of men of mobilization age and their potential repatriation. Martin Helme submitted this question to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, raising a critical view of the government's current approach to accepting refugees and determining the status of these individuals. He placed on the agenda the question of whether and when Estonia might hand over these mobilization-related persons to Ukraine or another state, should Ukraine request it. The subsequent response and discussion centered on clarifying the legal bases, European Union rules, and the framework for individuals holding temporary protection status. The debate also touched upon differences with neighboring countries (Latvia and Lithuania), clarifying that Latvia and Lithuania lack the legal basis to send these individuals out of Estonia, and that Estonia adheres to European Union rules under the temporary protection framework. Numbers were also highlighted: approximately 19,200 Ukrainian men aged 18–60 are in Estonia, with about 7,000 being of mobilization age. It was discussed that collection and repatriation, if they occur, should take place at the Ukrainian border or within Ukraine, and that Estonia follows legal procedures before undertaking any expulsion. In summary, the focus was on legality, borders and border control based on EU rules, and addressing the political concerns related to the pre-mobilization status.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions have been adopted.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Mart Helme (ID Bav3E8LSHIE), an EKRE member in the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament), representing a right-wing/far-right political orientation. He led the discussion on the core issues, presented critical arguments regarding the government's handling of Ukrainian refugees and men of mobilization age, and emphasized the need for faster and more concrete discussions at the government level.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Today's sixth question is a query submitted by Riigikogu member Mart Helme to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas concerning the issue of war and peace.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme accused Kaja Kallas’s government, stating that Estonia has allowed over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into the country, more than 10,000 of whom are men who should be fighting in Ukraine or contributing to the country in some other way. He emphasized that Ukraine has requested their return, and he asked whether the government has recently discussed how many of them should be sent out of Estonia and whether a paradigm shift has occurred.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech is an expression of gratitude and a request addressed to the Prime Minister.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas emphasized that Estonia, as a state governed by the rule of law, cannot deport war refugees who arrived here from Ukraine because they have temporary protection status and there is no legal basis for their expulsion. This remains true even though the President of Ukraine is asking them to return. Additionally, there are approximately 19,200 men aged 18–60 in Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the speaker and then invites Rain Epler to ask a follow-up question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks why Estonia lacks the legal basis to verify whether men of mobilization age have a passport endorsement granting permission to leave the country, given that Latvia and Lithuania perform such checks. He requests clarification on the legal foundation for this discrepancy and its context within the European Union.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas stated that the claim made by the Latvians and Lithuanians is untrue, and while information regarding mobilization calls is being collected and registered at the borders, the legal justification stems from the European Union's temporary protection for refugees from Ukraine. Under this framework, other countries do not have the right to send them back; rather, Ukraine must address this issue at its own borders.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gives thanks and notes that Mart Helme asked a clarifying question.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme pointed out that approximately 19,000 men of Ukrainian origin aged 18–60 are residing in Estonia, and asked whether the government was discussing mobilization or the creation of a local foreign legion with the consent of the Ukrainian government, which he considers a completely abnormal situation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas stated that recently, issues concerning Ukrainian refugees have been discussed, including the question of men of mobilization age. She noted that among those aged 18 to 60, there are approximately 19,600 registered men (about 7,000 of whom are of mobilization age). The state adheres to the law: if extradition is requested based on a Ukrainian court decision, it will be carried out; otherwise, those who have arrived here are permitted to stay under temporary protection. Furthermore, she added that hatred towards Ukrainians is incomprehensible.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the discussion of today's sixth item. Before moving on to the seventh item, Rain Epler requested to speak with the presiding officer and posed a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler emphasizes that this is more of a protest, describing how the prime minister organizes discussions and how he and the ministers clarified their answers to questions, and recommends monitoring the situation and, if necessary, calling the members of the government to order.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar emphasized that the chair of the session should only intervene if the debate or internal consultations get out of hand or become too verbose. He stressed that as long as the proceedings are not disruptive, the chair must not intervene—this is his explicit position regarding the procedure. Mart Helme subsequently raised a question regarding the procedure for conducting the session.
Mart Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mart Helme stresses that emotional and baseless accusations should not be made, and asks why you hate Ukrainians or your own people, noting that this format is not intended for that purpose.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and says that he cannot consider this a procedural question.