Participation of the Republic of Estonia in the War in Ukraine
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, information briefing
Date: 2024-04-17 15:49
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 14
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This segment of the Question Time focused on the inquiry raised by Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid (VV) to Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur (HP) regarding the participation of the Republic of Estonia in the war in Ukraine. VV sought confirmation on whether it is true that active duty personnel of the Estonian Defence Forces, including special forces operators, have been sent to Ukraine to carry out military tasks in a combatant status, and what the legal basis for this is, considering that a mandate from the Riigikogu has not been requested. VV stressed that such activity would contravene § 128 of the Constitution and the National Defence Act. Minister Pevkur confirmed that Estonian active duty personnel are present in Ukraine (e.g., the defence attaché and those on temporary assignments), but categorically refuted the claim that the Estonian Defence Forces are participating in the war against Russia. Pevkur repeatedly emphasized that Estonian servicemen are neither on an international military mission in Ukraine nor participating in military activities on Ukrainian soil. He explained that assignments take place on legal grounds (e.g., the attaché position or gathering experience). The debate was prolonged due to procedural disputes, during which VV demanded the right to pose a third question, citing the precedent set the previous week. The chairman of the session finally granted VV permission to ask an additional question so that the topic could receive a comprehensive answer.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Varro Vooglaid was extremely active, repeatedly posing clarifying questions regarding the potential deployment of Estonian servicemen to Ukraine in combatant status, and engaged in a lengthy procedural dispute with the session chairman over his right to ask a third question. His position was other (opposition).
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
MP Varro Vooglaid submitted a question to Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur concerning the Republic of Estonia’s participation in the war in Ukraine.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asked during the information hour whether active personnel of the Estonian Defence Forces have already been sent to Ukraine and on what legal basis, noting that a mandate had neither been requested nor received from the Riigikogu, and referring to the constitution and previous mandate processes.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed that Estonian military personnel have visited and continue to visit Ukraine, but the Estonian Defense Forces are not participating in the war against Russia, and the government maintains a single unified position; he called on others to join his delegation to observe the situation in Ukraine together.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar offers his thanks and asks Varro Vooglaid to present a clarifying question.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asks whether the government exercised state power in compliance with the Constitution and the National Defence Act, and whether Estonian Defence Forces special operators were sent to Ukraine with combatant status, which would imply Estonia's participation in military action against Russia.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said that Estonian servicemen will not participate in an international military mission in Ukraine.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar explains the procedure for the sitting: every member of the Riigikogu may ask one main question, one clarifying question, and one supplementary question; we have fewer questions today, and after Kalle Grünthal's seventh question has been addressed, members will be allowed to ask questions to the ministers, and the same rule applies—two minutes for the question and three minutes for the answer.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid said that the same situation repeated last week: since nobody else registered an additional question, he pressed the button himself and asked the question, confirming that he was not abusing the rules of procedure and that, as a member of the Riigikogu, he has the right to ask a follow-up question if no one else wants to ask.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar reiterated that a Member of the Riigikogu may submit one question, one clarifying question, and one supplementary question. Varro Vooglaid will have the opportunity to ask questions during the Q&A session after two-thirds of the questions have been processed, provided that Kalle Grünthal's question regarding the WHO pandemic agreement has been addressed.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vooglaid asserts that his interpretation is diametrically opposed to that of his colleague, and furthermore, the rules of procedure permit the Riigikogu member who posed the main question to ask a supplementary question, provided no one else has registered. He then asks where it is stated that he is prohibited from asking that question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker of the Riigikogu Lauri Hussar announced that he would immediately give Varro Vooglaid the opportunity to ask a third question during the information hour and to address the topic more thoroughly than a supplementary question would allow.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid asked whether active servicemen of the Estonian Defence Forces, including special forces personnel, are present on the territory of Ukraine in the status of a combatant and are carrying out war-related tasks, and requested to know both the actual situation and the legal basis for it.
Kaitseminister Hanno Pevkur
AI Summary
Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur confirmed that Estonian military personnel are not participating in combat operations in Ukraine. Instead, they are present there as defense attachés or on deployments, gathering experience for lessons learned. He added that this activity is lawful and will continue.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
He thanks everyone and announces that he is concluding the consideration of today's fifth question.