Riigikogu Adopted Statement “Let Us Remember, Commemorate, Persist”
The Riigikogu passed with 72 votes in favour the statement “Let Us Remember, Commemorate, Persist” (445 AE), initiated by 46 members of the Riigikogu. With this statement the Riigikogu commemorates the victims of the 1949 March deportations in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The statement emphasises that deportation is an international crime which does not expire. In the same way, the liability of those guilty of deportation does not expire.
The statement supports the proposal of the European Parliament to declare 23 August a European Memorial Day. The Riigikogu also supports the initiatives of the European Parliament and other European Union institutions as well as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the investigation of the crimes of totalitarianism and increasing awareness about them. Nobody voted against the statement and nobody abstained.
The Riigikogu decided with 55 votes in favour to deprive Member of the Riigikogu Villu Reiljan of deputy immunity for preparing a statement of charges with regard to him. 3 members of the Riigikogu voted against the decision and 1 member of the Riigikogu abstained.
The Riigikogu decided with 52 votes in favour to deprive Member of the Riigikogu Ester Tuiksoo of deputy immunity for preparing a statement of charges with regard to her. 3 members of the Riigikogu voted against the decision and 1 member of the Riigikogu abstained.
On the motion of the Constitutional Committee as leading committee the Bill on Amendments to the European Parliament Election Act, the Local Government Council Election Act, the Referendum Act and the Riigikogu Election Act (407 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, was rejected at the first reading. 40 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the motion of the Committee and 27 members voted against, nobody abstained.
Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting of the plenary assembly, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Local Government Council Election Act (450 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee, was adjourned. The deliberation will be resumed tomorrow, on 25 March, at the sitting beginning at 2 p.m.
The Riigikogu Press Service
