Work of the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee

The Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee is a committee of the Riigikogu which exercises supervision over authorities of executive power in issues relating to the activities of security authorities and surveillance agencies.

Formation

The Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee of the Riigikogu has been formed for the verification of the lawfulness of the activity and surveillance activities of the Internal Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service under § 36 of the Security Authorities Act.

Work of the CommitteeThe Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee:

• Verifies the compliance of the activities of the Internal Security Service and the Foreign Intelligence Service with the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as with the Procedure for Registration and Disclosure of Persons who Have Served in or Co-operated with Security Organisations or Intelligence or Counterintelligence Organisations of Armed Forces of States which Have Occupied Estonia Act, the State Secrets and Classified Information of Foreign States Act and other legislation. The Select Committee also verifies the compliance of the activities of the Police and Border Guard Board, the Prisons Department of the Ministry of Justice and the Investigation Department of the Tax and Customs Board with the Code of Criminal Procedure
• Discusses the draft budget of the security authorities at the same time as the draft state budget is debated in the Riigikogu
• The Committee submits an overview of its activities to the Riigikogu at least once a year

The Prime Minister and a relevant minister inform the Committee of the activities of the security authorities and surveillance agencies and of supervision over their activities. They submit an overview of such matters at least once in every six months. The sittings of the committee are closed.

Rights

In order to perform functions related to the work of the Committee, the Security Authorities Surveillance Select Committee has the right to summon persons and require documents for examination. If an offence is discovered, the Committee is required to forward the relevant materials to an investigative body or the Chancellor of Justice.