The repulsive and arrogant attitude of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and entrepreneurs doing business in Russia towards the work of the special committees of the Riigikogu has led us to a situation where the Riigikogu has no other solution to find out all the circumstances than to form an official investigation committee, said Tanel Kiik, chairman of the Riigikogu’s Center Party faction.
According to Tanel Kiige, the basis for convening the investigative committee is the Riigikogu’s Home and Working Procedures Act, which obliges invited persons to appear before the investigative committee, give explanations and answer questions. “The investigative committee has the right to summon persons before the committee and to demand data and documents necessary for the performance of its tasks. Failure to appear at the invitation of the investigative committee without a valid reason, failure to provide data or documents, or refusal to provide explanations or answer questions is punishable by a fine of up to 300 fine units,” specified the chairman of the Center Party faction.
Tanel Kiik also sent a corresponding appeal to the board of the Riigikogu and the chairmen of the political groups, adding that he considers it necessary to convene the Senate of the Riigikogu in order to jointly discuss how to solve the political situation and how to ensure the functioning of the parliamentary committees.
“For the second week already, Estonia is in a serious crisis of trust and government due to the business activities of a company in Russia with the participation of the prime minister’s wife. The reaction of the public and various opinion surveys clearly show that the Estonian people expect much more comprehensive explanations from the prime minister and the assumption of political responsibility. “Unfortunately, both the prime minister and the entrepreneurs doing business in Russia have so far refused to even appear before the special committees of the Riigikogu, which has further aggravated the crisis of confidence,” said Tanel Kiik.
According to Tanel Kiige, the investigative committee must provide answers to at least the following questions:
- When did the Prime Minister find out that the company with the participation of her husband was doing business in Russia? When and by whom was the decision made to end it?
- Were the Estonian security authorities aware of the referred business activity and have they drawn the prime minister’s attention to the accompanying risks?
- Under what circumstances and conditions did the Prime Minister give a total of 370,000 euros in loans to her husband’s company?
- Was the money borrowed by the prime minister used to promote business in Russia, and did the prime minister also earn interest income from the loan?
- What conclusions and changes in legislation must we make in order to avoid similar situations undermining Estonia’s foreign and security policy in the future?
