Baltic: UN alarmed at exit from mine ban treaty

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has expressed “grave alarm” at the decision of the three Baltic States, Finland, Poland, and Ukraine, to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty banning anti-personnel mines, BNS reported. Türk stressed that the international convention, which has over 160 state parties, was a crucial tool in “responding to…

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Estonia: Reform to continue in Tallinn coalition

Estonian capital Tallinn’s four-party coalition government is likely to continue for the time being, ERR reports. The Estonian Reform Party’s regional branch in Tallinn decided not to vote in favour of ousting incumbent mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski of the Social Democratic Party (SDE). Reform demands that the city council abolish kindergarten fees and approve a supplementary…

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Estonia: Scandal over unauthorised access to bank accounts by officials

Estonia’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) checked around 2,000 bank statements without legal authority, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise announced, ERR reports. FIU had obtained full bank statements via the data exchange layer connected to the enforcement register, whereas the law only allows FIU access to basic information about bank accounts. FIU told ERR that it…

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Latvia: Estonia rejects offer to buy into airBaltic

The Estonian government has rejected an offer to buy shares in Latvia’s national air carrier, airBaltic, LSM reports. Estonia’s Infrastructure Minister, Kuldar Leis, explained that the decision was due to the fact that airBaltic’s change of management had not been completed and its financial situation remained problematic. He said that Estonia would not raise airport…

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Estonia: Entrepreneur withdraws bid to become Tallinn mayor

Estonian entrepreneur Urmas Sõõrumaa has withdrawn his candidacy for mayor of Tallinn, ERR reports. Earlier, Sõõrumaa proposed forming a technocratic city government that would follow guidelines from the Estonian Reform Party and the Estonian Centre Party (Keskerakond) until the local elections in October 2025. Reform’s current coalition partner, the Social Democratic Party (SDE), accused Reform…

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