Russian politicians in Estonia are tested with doubly severe rigor

Russian politicians in Estonia are tested with doubly severe rigor
© Estonian Government   |   New Estonian cabinet of Prime Minister Kristen Michal, 23.07.2024

After Prime Minister Kaja Kallas decided to move to work in European structures, the Estonian government cabinet changed. The new Minister of Infrastructure position was unexpectedly awarded to a Russian-speaking politician, Vladimir Svet.

Not long ago, he was a member of the Centre Party and held the post of Deputy Mayor of the capital, responsible for roads and transport in Tallinn, the same area he will now oversee at the state level. But now, he is a member of the Social Democratic Party. He explains his decision to change parties by stating that he did not agree with the centrists' drift towards conservatism.

Few ministers of Russian origin

A Russian-speaking minister in Estonia is a rare occurrence. In the several decades since the restoration of independence, besides the half-Russian Minister of foreign affairs Marina Kaljurand and Minister of Education Kristina Kallas, they can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Three times became a member of the government the son of a prominent businessman, who for a time led the Social Democratic Party, Jevgeni Ossinovski, who has served as Minister of Education and Minister of Health and Labor. He currently heads the capital's City Hall. Centrist Mihhail Korb managed to serve as Minister of Public Administration for half a year.

This is not much, considering that the proportion of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia is quite large, about a quarter.

The issue of the glass ceiling for Russian politicians in the Estonian politics remained obvious but unsolvable for a long time: yes, they entered parliament, managed local governments, and several times Yana Toom from the Centre Party became a Member of the European Parliament, but they were not quickly allowed into executive power in the country.

Russian ministers were treated with some skepticism, which sometimes took very undiplomatic forms. For example, in 2014, a scandal erupted when Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi from the Reform Party called Education Minister Jevgeni Ossinovski "the son of an immigrant from the pink party" and was forced to resign as a result.

Centrist Minister Mihhail Korb in 2017 provoked a scandal publicly stating that he did not support Estonia's NATO membership, after which he left his post. His political career had to be abandoned after he, as the party's secretary-general, got involved in a corruption scandal and was found guilty by the court of second instance.

The War changed everything

The war in Ukraine has worsened the position of Russian-speaking politicians: defending the specific interests of the Russian-speaking population has become completely unpalatable. The Centre Party lost many of its supporters and its power in Tallinn, and now the Social Democratic Party is trying to take on the role of integrating Russian-speakers into the Estonian political space.

This is not always successful. For example, the party still cannot find a candidate for the post of head of Tallinn's largest district – Kesklinn, which is mostly Russian-speaking and could be considered the second-largest city in the country by population. The Social Democrats were looking for a Russian candidate for this post but faced opposition from their city coalition partner.

After the public figure Tatyana Lavrova, known as an environmental activist and organizer of mass clean-up events, was proposed for the post of district head, the nationalist party "Fatherland" stated that back in 2007, Lavrova opposed the relocation of a Soviet monument, collected donations for Soviet veterans, wanted to organize World Cleanup Day in Russia, and wrote to Vladimir Putin for this. To avoid pressure on the party, Lavrova withdrew her candidacy.

"For many Russian-speaking politicians in Estonia, one of the main difficulties is having to choose between, so to speak, 'dad' and 'mom' in a divorce, living in different countries and venting accumulated anger at each other on the child," Lavrova describes the situation for Veridica. According to her, this applies generally to the entire Russian-speaking population of Estonia, who remained here after the collapse of the USSR.

"The child remained with the 'mother,' by default guilty of everything the 'father' did or did not do; the 'mother' constantly expects the 'father's' genes to manifest any moment, and thus the 'child' is constantly required to prove their loyalty to the 'mother' and show a vivid demonstration of dislike for the 'father.' The second child in the family, born from another father, is allowed much more. It is difficult at any level in such families - personal, civil, political," Lavrova says.

"The situation where Russian-speaking politicians have to renounce their cultural roots or emphasize that they value Russian-speaking residents less than, for example, native Estonians is, in my opinion, unhealthy," she says.

An additional loyalty check

The new minister, Vladimir Svet, also faced the need to explicitly state his foreign policy position. For him, such a test of loyalty was the question of who Crimea belongs to. This question was asked in one of the interviews four years ago when Svet became the head of Lasnamäe. The answer was not straightforward: "What Crimea should be is like beauty in the eyes of the beholder. From the perspective of Russians, Crimea is an integral part of Russia; from the perspective of Ukrainians, it is an integral part of Ukraine. I can say two things that I believe. First, I believe that the majority of Crimea's population likely saw themselves more as part of Russia. And second, the way Russia took Crimea from Ukraine is not something that should happen in the world."

In 2018, such an answer from a Master of Law, former advisor to the Chancellor of Justice, and city official did not attract much attention, but after 2022, it raised questions for a politician aspiring to be a minister. For instance, the leader of "Fatherland," Urmas Reinsalu, stated that Svet's candidacy was doubtful. "In the current military situation, considering that he previously expressed the opinion that Crimea is, in fact, part of Russia, and that most Crimeans support Crimea joining Russia, if such a person ends up in the government at this time, it can be misinterpreted," Reinsalu told Estonian Broadcasting.

Under public pressure, Vladimir Svet had to publicly declare that Crimea belongs to Ukraine, and he was confirmed as the Minister of Infrastructure. He does not see a big problem with Russian-speaking politicians having to undergo additional loyalty checks, despite the fact that such demands are not made to politicians of Estonian origin.

"Well, yes, you could ask Tunne Kelam what he did in the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (former MEP and presidential candidate from the 'Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica' Tunne Kelam twice unsuccessfully tried to join the CPSU - ed.)," he jokes, "but I think this is, in a way, a sign of the times we live in. I understand why these questions are asked of me and why this loyalty test needs to be passed."

According to him, there is no problem with this for government-level politicians. "But it is abnormal when ordinary people face this problem because it alienates them, makes them isolate themselves in society, and this does not lead to anything good, in my opinion," he noted in a conversation with Veridica.

He agrees that ethnic origin seems to impose additional obligations on a Russian politician, including, for example, integrating Russians into Estonian society. "On the other hand, I sincerely hope that for most residents of Tallinn, I am primarily not Russian but someone who complicated their life with tram construction," he laughs.

"The role of politicians is to be citizens of the country, wishing it prosperity. It does not matter what nationality these politicians are; what matters is how they serve their multinational people," Tatyana Lavrova agrees with him. Meanwhile, the elder of Lasnamäe has still not been found, and the Social Democrats continue to search for promising Russian-speaking politicians.

Other opinions
The USA’s takeover of Gaza, a doomed proposal

The USA’s takeover of Gaza, a doomed proposal

Donald Trump said the USA might take over Gaza once Palestinians leave. No one in the Middle East can accept such a proposal because it would increase instability in the region.

The war is making pro-Putin elites richer, while it deepens inequality in Russia

The war is making pro-Putin elites richer, while it deepens inequality in Russia

The war in Ukraine is increasing the gap between Russia’s wealthy elites and the majority of the population. There is also a drive to redistribute wealth and channel it towards those loyal to Putin’s regime.

Why pro-Western Bulgarians no longer take their grievances to the streets

Why pro-Western Bulgarians no longer take their grievances to the streets

As various capitals in Eastern Europe are gripped by demonstrations, reformists in Bulgaria – a country with a tradition of protests – seem apathetic following years of political logjam and the return of the “system” parties.

EBOOK> Razboi si propaganda: O cronologie a conflictului ruso-ucrainean

EBOOK>Razboiul lui Putin cu lumea libera: Propaganda, dezinformare, fake news

More
Belarus elections: a show staged by the Lukashenko regime that fooled no one
Belarus elections: a show staged by the Lukashenko regime that fooled no one

Aleksandr Lukashenko won his seventh term as president with 86.82% of the vote and a turnout of 85.9%, results typical for dictatorial regimes. The figures were touted as proof of stability in Belarus, popular support for Lukashenko and tolerance of the opposition. However, the elections were neither free nor fair, but just a show that fooled no one.

What sovereignists do in Brussels when no one’s watching and what purpose they serve, if any
What sovereignists do in Brussels when no one’s watching and what purpose they serve, if any

A new word is gradually gaining traction across media and political debates: “sovereignists”. How does it all impact liberal democracy? To what extent can sovereignists influence EU politics?

Poland’s EU Council Presidency: Security First!
Poland’s EU Council Presidency: Security First!

On a brisk January morning in Strasbourg, Donald Tusk, the Prime Minister of Poland, stood before the European Parliament to deliver what many have already labeled a defining speech of his career. With his characteristic blend of gravitas and urgency, Tusk addressed Europe’s place in an increasingly volatile world. Referring to the profound shifts in transatlantic relations under Donald Trump’s presidency, Donald Tusk paraphrased another US President, John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what America can do for Europe and its security—ask what we can do for it”. His words reverberated across the chamber, signaling the dawn of a (let’s hope) pivotal six months in European politics: Poland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

NATO’s enlargement increased security in the Baltic region, but more needs to be done
NATO’s enlargement increased security in the Baltic region, but more needs to be done

New NATO members Finland and Sweden are increasingly involved in the security of the Baltic region, which has seen a number of aggressive Russian moves including sabotages of undersea infrastructure. However, the potential for cooperation with the Baltic countries has merely been tapped.

The Romanians who joined Georgescu’s hora felt “the touch of angels”
The Romanians who joined Georgescu’s hora felt “the touch of angels”

At the Union Hora, organized by the followers of Călin Georgescu, I got into a mix of nationalist mysticism, conspiracy theories, false Russian narratives and the belief that the "president elect" is some kind of messianic figure who will turn Romania into another Dubai.

Ariana Coman
25 Jan 2025
Putin's wars and the end of Europe’s dependency on Russian energy
Putin's wars and the end of Europe’s dependency on Russian energy

Putin believed that by invading Ukraine and engaging in wars in the East, he was restoring Russia's great power status. The result was Moscow's long-term loss of influence.