Rõivas added that unfortunately the messages of Mikser and Tsahkna had no weight as long as the leading politician of the Prime Minister’s party Yana Toom ridiculed them publicly and, moreover, instead of unambiguously condemning Toom’s statements, the Prime Minister was going on a visit to Russia. 

“I do not like at all the idea of Estonia where Yana Toom is the brightest foreign policy star. I expect more decisive behaviour from Jüri Ratas both in words and deeds,” former Prime Minister emphasised.

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“Russia does not respect international law, and undermines united, free and peaceful Europe, using both traditional methods and methods of hybrid warfare. There can on be only one solution to the conflict – a solution that respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.”

Rõivas said that Ukraine still had a long way to go in carrying out the reforms, including the fight against corruption, but he emphasised that cases of corruption should not become a pretext for not supporting Ukraine. 

“We need an aid package that is like the 21st century Marshall Plan, targeted towards results and with a clear time frame. The creation of such an aid package would give the people of Ukraine an even stronger message that they have not been forgotten, they are not alone,” Rõivas added.

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The letter to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini stresses that although the EU is the largest humanitarian donor for Syria, it has become marginalized in political negotiations, next to Russia, Turkey, and Iran who dictate the conditions of the negotiations.

“Lending unconditional financial support to a Syria in which Putin and Assad dictate the political terms would undermine the EU’s credibility,” stresses the letter to Mogherini, calling for stricter conditions on EU financial aid.

The Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region will take place on 5 April. It will be co-chaired by the European Union, Germany, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations. The conference will involve ministerial level representatives from 70 delegations, but also from the broader international community, civil society, and humanitarian aid and development organisations.

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Deputy Chairman of the E-Estonia Support Group Kalle Palling added that in order to catch the eye of large international companies, Estonia must be able to compete with other countries that have taken similar steps.

“Estonia has everything that it takes to become the best place in the world for developing autonomous cars. This is why we are willing to allow the technology to be tested on public roads. This is a massive competitive edge compared to most countries where autonomous cars can only be used in a restricted area set aside for the purpose,” Palling said.

Last Thursday, the joint expert group of the Government Office and the Ministry of Economic Affairs announced that Estonia is opening its roads to autonomous cars. 

Taavi Rõivas and Kalle Palling sent the invitation to the management boards of Daimler, Tesla, Uber, Volvo, and Waymo (formerly Google car). 

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“At the heart of the rapid growth of the sharing economy is a technology that allows you to use resources that had previously been capitalized inefficiently. Technology used by the sharing economy is able to massively increase efficiency in society,” said Palling.

In Tallinn for example, cars are left unused for 23 hours a day, with only an average of 1.3 people in each car when in use. At the same time, the cost of transport is responsible for more than 12% of average household’s expenditure. Through the use of technology, these cars can be used in a more efficient and flexible manner.

“In Tallinn I know a driver who shared his ride just to pay a €$300 dental bill – a goal which he achieved in a week’s time. There are politicians who drive when their children are at school. The coach of the successful women’s basketball team uses Taxify in his free time. There is also the beloved puppet theatre actress who earns extra money via Uber. And these are only some of the reasons why people choose to participate in the sharing economy,” said Palling.

Since launching their services, digital platforms such as Uber or Taxify have provided thousands of consumers with more choice and hundreds of people with flexible working opportunities. Ultimately this could boost the state’s tax income since the “sharing economy creates a completely new technical option for a simple and fair tax declarations” as has been illustrated by Uber’s cooperation with the Estonian Tax Board.

Palling finally also stressed that to reap the benefits of the sharing economy politicians need to be proactive:

“Let us admit today that the sharing economy is here to stay. The Internet can not be “shut off”. This means we need to be open to innovation, create the prerequisites for economic growth and new opportunities that come with it. Leave people with the freedom to share their property, freedom of earning . The choice is now yours.”

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“It is one possibility, and it is better than quietly watching how international law is being grossly violated,” former Foreign Minister said.

“Nadiya Savchenko, who was kidnapped from the territory of Ukraine 20 months ago, must be released. The members of the Riigikogu who joined today’s statement also insist that the officials of the Russian Federation who are responsible for the capture, detention and illegal trial of Nadiya Savchenko were banned from entering the European Union,” she added.

“By today, Russia has robbed 632 days from the life of the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada member Nadiya Savchenko. During that time, she has been kept in solitary confinement, she has been forced to undergo psychiatric evaluation, and the so-called trial against her has become a political vengeance of Russia. It is obvious that Russia is violating international law,” Pentus-Rosimannus finds.

“It is extraordinary and extreme that the Riigikogu makes a statement in such a format, but the situation of Nadiya Savchenko, who is suffering in Russia in the harshest way possible because of political vengeance and has started hunger strike, is also extreme,” Member of the Riigikogu said.

Statement of the Riigikogu

In support of illegally imprisoned Nadiya Savchenko

The Riigikogu expresses deep concern over the fate of Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Member Nadiya Savchenko, who was captured in Ukraine and is being illegally detained in Russia, and calls for her release.

Nadiya Savchenko is an elected member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. She was captured against her will in the territory of Ukraine by members of the so-called Donbass People’s Militia on 17 June 2014. In July 2014, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation announced that Savchenko “crossed the Russian border on her own accord.”

It is obvious that by imprisoning and illegally detaining a Member of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, Russia has violated and is violating international law, including the Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War of 1949 and the Minsk Protocol of 5 September 2014, point 5 of which requests “immediate release of all hostages and illegally detained persons.”

The Russian Federation continues the trial against Savchenko on baseless charges; it is little more than political vengeance.

On 4 March 2016, Savchenko started a hunger strike, refusing both food and water, to protest against the illegal trial and demand her return to Ukraine.

The Riigikogu calls on the Russian Federation to immediately release Nadiya Savchenko and hand her over to Ukraine.

The Riigikogu calls for officials of the Russian Federation who are responsible for the capture, detention and illegal trial of Nadiya Savchenko to be banned from entering the European Union.

Submitted by Members of the Riigikogu on 9 March 2016

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