The Riigikogu passed a Resolution and a Statement.

The Riigikogu passed the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Appointment of a Member of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia Who Is a Member of the Riigikogu” (332 OE), submitted by the Finance Committee on 10 February. Jürgen Ligi was appointed as a substitute member of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia.

The amendment is due to the fact that Andres Sutt, the former member of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia who was a member of the Riigikogu, was appointed the Minister of Entrepreneurship and Information Technology on 26 January, and his mandate as a member of the Riigikogu was suspended. The Estonian Reform Party made a proposal to the Finance Committee to appoint Jürgen Ligi as a substitute member of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia.

The Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia is the oversight body of the Bank of Estonia and it consists of a Chairman, representatives of the political groups of the Riigikogu and specialists of the field. The principle to govern the forming of the Supervisory Board is that each faction of the Riigikogu nominates one of its members and the Chairman of the Board nominates four specialists of the field. Under the Bank of Estonia (Eesti Pank) Act, the members of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia are appointed by the Riigikogu at the proposal of the Finance Committee. Under the Bank of Estonia (Eesti Pank) Act, the mandate of a member of the Supervisory Board of the Bank of Estonia who is a Member of the Riigikogu lapses with the suspension or termination of the mandate of the Member of the Riigikogu.

69 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Resolution, one was against, and there was one abstention.

The Riigikogu passed the Statement of the Riigikogu “In Support of the European Union Common Foreign Policy and in Defence of Civic Freedoms in Russia” (333 AE), submitted by 57 members of the Riigikogu.

Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson Marko Mihkelson (Reform Party) made a report on behalf of the initiators.

The Statement emphasises the need to develop a foreign policy that would represent the interests and protect the common positions of the Member States of the European Union for communication with Russia. The Statement also encourages the Member States of the European Union to support and defend the civil society in Russia.

The Statement points out a conclusion that, in communication with Russia, it is necessary to be principled and to stand for the values that the European Union has been established to protect – to protect human dignity, freedom, democracy, equal rights, the principles of the rule of law, and human rights.

The Statement of the Riigikogu condemns the violence of the Russian power structures against the citizens who are protesting against corruption and violations of human rights, and demands release of the political prisoners who have been convicted for protecting the fundamental rights of citizens that are granted in the Constitution of Russia.

Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Jüri Luik (Isamaa) made a supplementary report.

During the debate, Eerik-Niiles Kross (Reform Party), Ruuben Kaalep (Estonian Conservative People’s Party), Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski (Centre Party), Mihhail Lotman (Isamaa) and Indrek Saar (Social Democratic Party) took the floor.

62 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of adopting the Statement, three were against, and there was one abstention.

Text of the adopted Statement:

During the open microphone, Hele Everaus and Kalle Grünthal took the floor.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian):

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu.

(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service

Gunnar Paal, +372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837

[email protected]

Questions: [email protected]