University of Tartu criminology professor Jaan Ginter said the use of force by police at recent protests in Tallinn has been excessive. Former interior minister Ain Seppik assessed that the situation cannot be resolved with police.
Speaker of the Riigikogu and former prime minister Jüri Ratas (Center) says that the decision to bring the European Union flags back to the Riigikogu s white hall has already been made, adding he hopes the flags will be put back in place this week.
Ratas predecessor as speaker, Henn Põlluaas (EKRE), started his tenure in the post, which he took up in spring 2019, with an order to remove the flags from the white hall (this also required Riigkogu backing, which was obtained by a margin of one vote - ed.).
Ratas, who was prime minister when Põlluaas was speaker, promised to bring the flags back if he were to become speaker, and as of now, that decision has been made.
Director General of the Internal Security Service (ISS) Arnold Sinisalu says that there is no evidence that the Kremlin is behind recent protests over restrictions arising as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The hand of the Kremlin is not behind things. There are many different actors. The public are protesting, which is one of the rights set out by the constitution, Sinisalu said, ahead of the publication of the 2021 edition of the ISS annual yearbook.
However, Sinisalu admitted that it is not entirely clear to him what people are protesting against exactly.
The ISS director noted that some people identified as Russians have been present at the protests, but that they cannot be considered agents provocateur.
Will the planned amendment to the Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act (NETS) lay the foundation for a totalitarian state? No, it will not. However, it also fails to help us move closer to a clearer, more surefooted legal order, jurist Paloma Krõõt Tupay writes.
The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) will limit access and disperse people to groups of 10 in front of the Riigikogu building at Toompea as a demonstration against amendments to legislation and coronavirus restrictions is planned for Friday afternoon.
The police has monitored public gatherings at the Lossi Square for the last few days and has directed people to follow distancing regulations, the Health Board announced on Friday. While sufficient distance was ensured to start the week, more than 200 people have taken part of the demonstrations in recent days and participants have not followed distancing regulations. According to the Health Board s safety forecasts, more than 10 people gathering is a danger for the active spread of the coronavirus. Considering that the COVID-19 virus requires hospitalization and can end in death, it is a danger to peoples lives, said Health Board director Üllar Lanno.