Chancellor’S Year In Review
Dear Reader
During the last reporting year, every day the Chancellor’s Office received justified complaints against the state and local authorities, including such that are almost humanly impossible to explain otherwise than by total alienation of those exercising power from their role as servants of the people. Heartfelt thanks to those officials and politicians who have made an effort in serving Estonia and the people living here, who have been ready to correct mistakes and change working arrangements.
Worthy of recognition and gratitude is the Riigikogu for numerous quick legislative amendments, which may have escaped the attention of the public but solved the problems of many people. For example, the unemployment insurance system was further improved. However, this does not yet completely remove the topic of 21st century work and of the security network from the list of issues that need to be dealt with. When a mistake is made, it has to be corrected immediately, as we know that the energy spent on looking for culprits – unless we are dealing with an evil act – is spent in vain. Let bygones be bygones, and let’s move on happily and ever better!
In December, the Supreme Court granted the Chancellor’s application to declare the unsystematic nature of provision of social services by local authorities and leaving people in difficulty unconstitutional. However, the second and more difficult part of the formula still needs to be taken care of. Perhaps help for those members of the local community who are in need of assistance will become an important issue in upcoming elections of rural municipal, town and city councils throughout Estonia. Inspection visits to care homes reveal poor living conditions and staff shortages still in many places. It is delightful to see that very many of those doing this extremely difficult work are dedicated to looking after care home residents as well as possible. Often, our summaries of an inspection visit begin with well-deserved comments on how residents acknowledge friendly staff, and we too were left with an impression of diligence, often despite objectively poor room structure and lack of money.
The issue of dignity at the end of life is wider. Could a person give well-considered notarised instructions concerning their resuscitation and life-preserving treatment for a situation when actually there is no more hope? If at least the so-called ‘patient’s last will’ (also termed a ‘living will’ or ‘advance directives’) were indeed made executable, this would also show mercy to doctors who have to bear the burden of difficult decisions.
Estonian healthcare is of good quality and medical care is better ensured than in many other countries. More could be done to better appreciate our medical staff. For example, it is necessary to resolve the issue whether a doctor may be prevented, under threat of a corruption offence, from upholding the doctor’s oath and treating a person. We believe the answer is no. Thanks to the Riigikogu for having set about resolving these issues. Corruption is unquestionably completely impermissible, but an honest society cannot be achieved by placing all decision-makers, even doctors, in a confining atmosphere of suspicion. Even when to the best of your knowledge you have done nothing wrong, have not caused damage to the state or given unfair advantage to someone, you may be labelled as corrupt in the eyes of the public because of a formal violation. Corruption is a very serious thing, and so it must be clear to all decision-makers what is allowed and what is prohibited.
During the reporting year, many complaints concerned decisions to close or refusal to open a bank account. Certainly, no assistance should be provided to criminals or suspicious transactions tolerated. However, it seems that undertakings with no substantive connection to money laundering also had their bank accounts closed. Since no justification is given for these decisions, they cannot protect their interests. A person not allowed to have even a single bank account in Estonia is largely sidelined from the normal functioning of society. It is hardly likely that cash transactions instead of bank transfers reduce the risk of money laundering. Actually, not all transactions can be made in hard cash. Access to government e-services, or rather the absence of access, for example when an ID card cannot be used because of a mistake by the state, or if a blind person cannot access a hospital’s digital registration service to book, cancel or change a doctor’s appointment, brought about numerous petitions this year. It is commendable that the authorities also promise to correct mistakes and indeed do so.
Estonians living in Abkhazia, who have already once been issued with a passport of a citizen by birth, may keep it as a favourable outcome of a long dispute. This helps to avoid much human tragedy. Thanks to the Police and Border Guard Board for finding such a human-centred interpretation showing care for our own people.
The above is only a small selection of the concerns and joys reaching the desk of the Chancellor and the whole of the Chancellor’s Office. A comprehensive chapter on the emergency situation could already be presented to the parliament in the spring session. I would like to thank the Riigikogu for this opportunity. One thing is clear: there is no doubt that the Constitution is still valid in the conditions of an emergency situation.
I hope that during these hectic times Estonia will be able to serve as an example with its science-based approach and its courage. Fear or over-enthusiasm never serve us well. Analysts will probably continue to scrutinise for a long time why an almost hysterical wave of closing borders and social life rolled from country to country, why infection rates increased in some countries despite the strictest obligation to wear masks. Could it be that we are witnessing the artificial creation of a new permanent need for consumption and a profitable environmentally damaging branch of industry? It is worth paying careful attention to how long people’s patience will last and what happens when exhaustion occurs.
In terms of scientific research, we live in extremely exciting times. If only decision-makers had the courage to be guided by the results of these studies, to set reasonable and attainable goals in combating the spread of the virus, goals which are also non-damaging in the long term, and to impose only restrictions which are logically appropriate.
It is not fair to rashly criticise decision-makers. For years, the complaint was heard that those at the head of the state often strive for goals with a view to the long-term gain of the nation, yet do not bother to explain clearly why something is done that does not seem either convenient or right at the time, but will still be useful later. Now the situation is different: rational decisions are too often swept aside by perceptions of what voters might like at the moment. Hopefully this trend, too, will turn. Decisions affecting society as a whole may not be based on momentary emotion arising without a careful analysis of facts and their interconnections. In the end, this is not what voters want, either.
The Chancellor’s Office does not let itself be disturbed by this irrational confusion and will do its best to contribute to preserving the rule of law. This will be done within the limits of the Chancellor’s mandate and powers, just as the Chancellors of Justice of the Republic of Estonia have done their work since 1993. Competently, swiftly, and as clearly as possible. If possible, by pre-empting problems and not picking up the pieces trying to be wise after the event.
The Constitution does not allow the Chancellor to rewrite or criticise court judgments, nor is it within our capacity to ban the spread of the coronavirus, or to send people to a doctor’s appointment, and we cannot resolve debt disputes with a bank or a bailiff, let alone a family quarrel or a row between neighbours. Even though it is not directly our task, we nevertheless try to tell individuals how they can protect their rights in these cases.
The central task of the Chancellor of Justice – constitutional review – is supported by the Chancellor’s roles as ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, the national preventive mechanism against cruel treatment, supervisor of surveillance agencies, the human rights institution, and promoter of the rights of people with disabilities. The Office of the Chancellor has not expanded ‒ our good colleagues were able to withstand the pressure, even alongside other unexpected duties while working from their home office this special spring, if necessary also cutting down on their sleep and days off.
If at all within our capacity, we help, making use of the shortest possible lawful avenue. We leave for readers to decide whether and to what extent we succeeded in doing so.
During this reporting year, i.e. from 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020, the Chancellor received 4026 different petitions, requests and letters (3782 a year earlier). Of these 4000 messages and more received, 2473 required a substantive solution (2302 a year earlier).
To stay informed of the daily work of the Chancellor’s Office, you can access the Chancellor of Justice website. I also post summaries on Facebook of selected debates I personally consider important and interesting.
The Office of the Chancellor of Justice is located in Tallinn, at 8 Kohtu Street. You may send a letter to the e-mail address [email protected] and postal address Kohtu 8, 15193 Tallinn, or you may call us at (+372) 693 8404. You may also contact the Chancellor via a video message in sign language.
Accreditation of the national human rights institution
Under the Act on supplementing the Chancellor of Justice Act passed on 13 June 2018, the Riigikogu imposed new duties on the Chancellor: as of 1 January 2019 the institution of Chancellor of Justice is simultaneously the national human rights institution (NHRI).
Every national human rights institution may seek official international accreditation status, which gives the institution additional rights within the UN human rights protection system and links it more strongly to other human rights institutions and international organisations. In charge of the accreditation process is the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI), more specifically its Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA).
In January 2019, the Chancellor submitted to the SCA an official request to start the accreditation process. In October 2019, the process moved swiftly forward and the Chancellor sent all the necessary documentation to the SCA. The documents contained a detailed overview of the Chancellor’s work (examples of protecting and promoting human rights) and mandate, as well as explanations as to how the Chancellor’s institution meets the so-called Paris Principles laid down by resolution of the UN General Assembly.
The last step of accreditation, i.e. an interview with the SCA, was to have taken place in March 2020. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, most of international communication (including the activities of the SCA) essentially stopped overnight. Thus the international accreditation of the Chancellor’s institution was also postponed.
Work of the Advisory Committee on Human Rights
The Advisory Committee on Human Rights, set up in spring 2019 and advising the Chancellor of Justice, was to have convened for the third time in March this year, but the meeting was cancelled due to the emergency situation. Nevertheless, several members of the Advisory Committee notified the Chancellor about issues (e.g. healthcare) arising during the emergency situation and provided important information about developments in their area. The next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Human Rights is scheduled for October.
Human rights education
In the autumn semester of the academic year 2020/2021, the Chancellor's advisers will teach a unique interdisciplinary subject “Human rights and design: an introduction” at the Estonian Academy of Arts, the substance and structure of which has been developed at the Office of the Chancellor of Justice. The subject will explore the meaning of a human rights-based approach to design and the role/responsibility that designers have/could have in protecting and promoting human rights.
The Chancellor’s advisers also contributed to the revised edition of the annotated Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and are preparing the manuscript of a new book on human rights in Estonian.
Meetings with Riigikogu factions
In May and June 2020, the Chancellor traditionally met with all the Riigikogu factions.
Meetings with members of parliament serve three aims. The Chancellor introduces members of the Riigikogu to her most recent opinions and the tools at her disposal in exercising constitutional review. Then the Chancellor listens to comments and observations by the members of the Riigikogu on the Chancellor’s activities. In addition, members of parliament make proposals on topics and areas which they believe the Chancellor should deal with in the future.
Understandably, the emergency situation in spring left its mark on this year’s meeting. Members of the Riigikogu had many questions about the effectiveness and lawfulness of restrictions. The Chancellor, in turn, provided an overview of those aspects of prohibitions imposed and measures taken in the emergency situation which most affected people and undertakings. As a preliminary result of the meetings, at the end of the Riigikogu spring session the Chancellor delivered a presentation to the Riigikogu on the legal certainty of the measures used to combat the corona pandemic.
Arising from her status and her oath of office, the Chancellor of Justice is not a politician, which means that she does not participate in current political debates nor does she express opinions on promises of a political nature. The Chancellor’s work in the Riigikogu mostly concerns the constitutionality of draft legislation and the quality of law-making in general.
The Chancellor replied to most questions during the meetings and sent a written answer to the remaining enquiries within a couple of weeks.
International cooperation
Since 2001, the Estonian Chancellor of Justice has been a member of the International Ombudsman Institute (IOI). The Institute was established in 1978 and includes over 190 national and regional ombudsmen from over a hundred countries worldwide. The IOI operates in six regions – Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America, and North America – and is governed through worldwide and regional Boards.
The Chancellor of Justice, Ülle Madise, was elected to the seven-member Board of the IOI European region on 30 September 2015 and was re-elected on 27 July 2016. Since November 2017, Ülle Madise has also been a member of the IOI World Board. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the mandate of the members of the Board was extended to May 2021.
Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise also represents Estonia in the Council of Europe Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). The head of the International Relations and Organisational Development of the Chancellor’s Office, Kertti Pilvik, participates as Estonian representative in the work of the Management Board of the EU Agency of Fundamental Rights (FRA).
As of 2019, the Chancellor of Justice is also a member of the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI). She also represents the Republic of Estonia in the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) and the networks of European Ombudsmen (ENO), the International Conference of Ombuds Institutions for the Armed Forces (ICOAF), police ombudsmen (IPCAN), and National Preventive Mechanisms (NPM).
The Chancellor’s foreign guests during the reporting period 2019-2020
11 September 2019 – delegation of judges from the European Judicial Training Network exchange programme.
7–8 October 2019 – the founder of the De Hogeweyk care facility for people with dementia syndrome, Eloy van Hal, and Associate Professor of social welfare law at Tampere University, Laura Kalliomaa-Puha, attended the conference „Väärika vananemise võimalikkusest. Kuhu küll lõpeb rändaja tee? (G. Suits)“ [On the possibility of dignified ageing. Where does a wanderer's road end?] organised by the Office of the Chancellor of Justice on 8 October.
5–8 November 2019 – study visit of the Armenian Ombudsman’s Department for Prevention of Ill-treatment.
6 January 2020 – German Federal Minister of Justice and Consumer Protection, Christine Lambrecht, with a delegation.
11 March 2020 – delegation of advisers to the Ukrainian Ombudsman.
Foreign visits of the Chancellor of Justice and her advisers
18–20 September 2019 – Vallo Olle attended a meeting of the Group of Independent Experts on the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Strasbourg.
20 September 2019 – Evelin Lopman and Marje Kask attended an event organised in Helsinki by the network of European environmental lawyers.
24–27 September 2019 – Andres Aru and Margit Sarv attended the annual meeting of the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) in Belfast.
26–27 September 2019 – Ülle Madise, Kertti Pilvik, Indrek-Ivar Määrits, Juta Saarevet and Eva Lillemaa attended the annual meeting of Baltic and Nordic ombudsmen in Vilnius.
9–11 October 2019 – Käti Mägi attended the training seminar “Migrants' rights at the borders” organised by the European Network of the NHRI (ENNHRI) in Madrid.
12–14 October 2019 – Olari Koppel observed parliamentary elections in Poland as a member of the National Electoral Committee.
14–18 October 2019 – Eva Lillemaa attended the international conference “Measuring and Enhancing the Impact of National Preventive Mechanisms” organised by the Georgian Ombudsman in Tbilisi.
15–17 October 2019 – Ülle Madise and Kertti Pilvik attended the seminar “General Data Protection Regulation” organised by the Latvian Ombudsman, and a meeting of the European Board of the IOI.
16–18 October 2019 – Käti Mägi attended a meeting of the European police ombudsmen network (IPCAN) in Paris.
31 October – 2 November 2019 – Arno Tuisk attended the debate “How ombudsman assess the actions of government” organised by the Dutch Ombudsman in the Hague.
12–14 November 2019 – Liiri Oja attended the assembly and conference of the European Network of the NHRI (ENNHRI) in Brussels.
12–16 November 2019 – Käti Mägi, Maria Sults and Ksenia Žurakovskaja-Aru were on a study visit to Iceland studying the situation of prisons and police establishments and discussing issues of supervision of these establishments.
24–26 November 2019 – Andres Aru and Juta Saarevet attended the conference “Inclusive Education – Missing Links” in Vilnius.
26–28 November 2019 – Piret Arukaevu, Kaidi Kaidme, Kadi Kallas, Kristine Kärner and Riste Uuesoo were on a study visit to Sweden studying the country’s public service organisation and discussing issues related to the support function.
1–3 December 2019 – Kristi Paron attended the conference “The International Scientific Conference on Shared Parenting” in Malaga.
4–5 December 2019 – Ülle Madise and Piret Arukaevu attended the conference “Clear writing for Europe” organised by the European Commission in Brussels.
9 December 2019 – Ülle Madise attended a plenary session of the Council of Europe Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) in Strasbourg.
9–11 December 2019 – Olari Koppel attended a seminar on the Venice Principles in Nicosia.
12–13 December 2019 – Kertti Pilvik attended a meeting of the Management Board of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in Vienna.
23 January 2020 – the Chancellor of Justice and her advisers visited Helsinki in the frame of work on promoting the rights of people with disabilities to examine the accessibility of ports and ships in Tallinn and Helsinki and of public buildings in Helsinki.
26–28 January 2020 – Ksenia Žurakovskaja-Aru attended a meeting in Rome of experts on prevention of ill-treatment.
Study visits
In autumn 2019, the Chancellor’s advisers visited parliamentary ombudsmen in Iceland and Sweden. In Iceland, they studied the situation of prisons and police establishments and discussed issues of supervision of these establishments. In Sweden, they studied the country’s organisation of public services and discussed issues related to the support function. The study visits took place with support from the Nordic-Baltic mobility programme for public administration.
Media
Articles
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Kodanik on riigi omanik, mitte klient“ [The citizen is the owner of the state and not its client], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 25 August 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Kes peaks saama kuuluda volikokku?“ [Who should be able to serve on municipal council?], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 9 July 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Hent Kalmo, „Konservatiivsusest põhiseaduses“ [On conservatism in the Constitution], Postimees, 13 June 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Suur osa avalikust ruumist paikneb meil kaubanduskeskustes“ [Much of public space is located in shopping centres], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 11 June 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Erakondade rahastamise kontrolli muutmine on üks riukalik plaan“ [Changing the control of financing political parties is a devious plan], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 27 May 2020
Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, „Amet ja hirm“ [Government agency and fear], ERR opinion, 15 May 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Mis on inimelu hind?“ [What is the price of human life?], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 21 April 2020
Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise, „Eriolukorra lõpetamise võimalikkusest“ [On the possibility to terminate the emergency situation], ERR opinion, 21 April 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Usun, et mitmed seadused lähevad pärast kriisi muutmisele“ [I believe many laws will be amended once the crisis is over], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 24 March 2020
The Head of Disability Rights of the Chancellor’s Office, Juta Saarevet, and Supreme Court analyst Raina Loom, „Sotsiaalabi piirid – inimeste õigused ja kohalike omavalitsuste kohustused“ [The limits of social assistance – the rights of people and duties of local authorities], journal Sotsiaaltöö, 1/2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro, „Vabadus ja Hiina kodanikupunktisüsteem“ [Freedom and the Chinese social credit system], radio programme Vikerraadio päevakommentaar, 25 February 2020
The Chancellor’s advisers Maria Sults and Käti Mägi, „Süüteo toime pannud vaimse häirega inimese kinnipidamiseks sobivad asutused: olukord Eestis ja põgus ülevaade mõningatest Euroopa Inimõiguste Kohtu lahenditest” [Establishments suitable for detaining people with a mental disorder who have committed an offence: situation in Estonia and a brief overview of some case-law of the European Court of Human Rights], journal Juridica, 2020/1
The Chancellor’s adviser Liisi Uder, „Mind ei huvita mu pension, mina töötan surmani” [I am not interested in my pension, I will work till I die], ERR, 2 February 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Kristi Paron, „Lapsesõbralik tervishoid” [Child-friendly healthcare], journal Märka Last, November 2019
Interviews
Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise explained issues related to restrictions on the sale of alcohol on the Raadio 2 programme „R2 päev“, 4 September 2020
The Chancellor spoke on Kuku radio about speeches heard on the Day of Restoration of Independence, 21 August 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the 100th anniversary of the Constitution on the television programme „Esimene stuudio”, 15 June 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on Kuku radio – 100 years from adoption of the first Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, 15 June 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the Klassikaraadio programme „Suveduur", 1 June 2020
Chancellor of Justice on the ETV programme „Aktuaalne kaamera”: „Ärge kartke piirangu rikkumisega kaasnevat karistust, kartke nakkust” [Don’t be afraid of punishment following violation of restrictions, but be afraid of infection], 15 May 2020
Chancellor of Justice on the Vikerraadio programme „Uudis+": „Vaja oleks selgel õiguslikul alusel põhiseaduspäraselt panna nakkuse levikule piir” [The spread of infection needs to be stopped on a clear legal basis and in line with the Constitution], 13 May 2020
Chancellor of Justice on the ETV programme „AK nädal": „Kui on vaja välkkiiret juhtimist, siis ei pea eriolukorda pelgama” [If lightning-speed decision-making is required, there is no need to be afraid of an emergency situation], 3 May 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Eva Lillemaa spoke on the Vikerraadio programme „Uudis+” about what happens in care homes during the crisis, 5 May 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice: „Paljud inimesed on valmis nii kergelt vabaduse ja vastutuse ära andma“ [Many people are prepared to give up their freedom and responsibility so easily], Õhtuleht, 30 April 2020
Chancellor of Justice on Äripäev radio: riigijuhid on tugeva surve all [the country’s leaders are under strong pressure], 23 April 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the ETV programme „Esimene studio”: „Piiranguid ei saa järsult kaotada” [Restrictions cannot be lifted quickly], 23 April 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the ERR programme „Otse uudistemajast”, 22 April 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the ERR portal: „Ülle Madise: ka koroonakriisi ajal võiksid seadused olla arusaadavad“ [Ülle Madise: even during the corona crisis laws should still be understandable], 21 April 2020
Chancellor of Justice on the Vikerraadio programme „Vikerhommik”: „Soovitan inimestel hoolega kaaluda, mis andmeid nad jagavad“ [I recommend that people should carefully weigh what data they share], 14 April 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the ERR portal: „Ülle Madise: omavalitsused ei saa andmeid nende koroonahaigete nimedega“ [Ülle Madise: local authorities do not receive data with the names of their corona-infected people], 10 April 2020
ERR news: Terviseametil polnud õigust hambaarstide ja erakliinikute tööd piirata [The Health Board had no right to restrict the work of dentists and private clinics], 9 April 2020
ERR news: Õiguskantsler taunib mõningaid vanglate kriisimeetmeid [Chancellor of Justice critical of some crisis measures in prisons], 9 April 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the PARE podcast: „Avameelselt inimeste juhtimisest” [Frankly about management of people], 8 April 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the Delfi news portal: „Ülle Madise: nakatunud inimest telefoni asukoha määramisega jälitada ei tohi, see on täiesti keelatud” [Ülle Madise: tracing an infected person by mobile phone positioning is not allowed, it is absolutely prohibited] 30 March 2020
Kanal 2 news Euroopa inimõiguste konventsioonist ja Eesti põhiseaduse kehtimisest [On the European Convention on Human Rights and validity of the Estonian Constitution], 30 March 2020
TV3 news Euroopa inimõiguste konventsioonist ning selle toime osalisest peatamisest Eestis [On the European Convention on Human Rights and partial suspension of its effect in Estonia], 30 March 2020
Chancellor of Justice: ka haiged Riigikogu liikmed saavad hääletada [Sick members of the Riigikogu can also vote], ERR news, 18 March 2020
The Chancellor of Justice on the Vikerraadio programme „Reporteritund” replied to questions from host Kaja Kärner and listeners, 17 March 2020
The Chancellor of Justice on the Kuku radio programme “Vox populi” replied to questions from listeners, 13 March 2020
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the ETV programme „Terevisioon”: „Õiguskantsler praegu eriolukorra välja kuulutamist ei toeta“ [The Chancellor does not support declaring an emergency situation at the moment], 12 March 2020
The Chancellor of Justice debated on the issue of justification for declaring an emergency situation in the Vikerraadio programme „Uudis+", 12 March 2020
The Chancellor of Justice debated on Delfi radio with Mihhail Lotman on the issue of pension reform, 28 January 2020
The Chancellor’s adviser Külli Taro spoke about state reform on Äripäev radio, 23 January 2020
The Head of Disability Rights of the Chancellor’s Office, Juta Saarevet, spoke on Vikerraadio about the year 2019 in social protection, 8 January 2020
The Chancellor of Justice discussed on Äripäev radio how to measure the work of an official, 12 December 2019
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the ETV programme „Esimene studio” about the risk of politicization of public officials, 27 November 2019
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice on the Kuku radio programme „Nädala tegija”, 22 November 2019
Interview with the Chancellor’s adviser Kristi Paron in the daily Postimees – „Kristi Paron: ravi mõistev laps paraneb paremini“ [Kristi Paron: a child who understands the treatment heals better]
Interview with the Chancellor of Justice in the daily Eesti Päevaleht – „Ülle Madise: mängurlus on Eesti tulevikule kõige ohtlikum“ [Ülle Madise: political gambling is the biggest threat to Estonia’s future], 12 November 2019
Speeches
The Chancellor’s speech on the 100th birthday of the Supreme Court and opening of the newly renovated building in Tartu on Toomemägi Hill on 28 August 2020
The Chancellor’s presentation „Õigusriik eriolukorras” [Rule of law in an emergency situation] in the Riigikogu on 22 June 2020
The Chancellor’s welcome in the Rose Garden of the President of the Republic at the presentation of the merit awards „Lastega ja lastele” [With and For Children] on 1 June 2020
The Chancellor’s speech at the colloquium „Eerik-Juhan Truuväli – tema ajastu ja tulevik” [Eerik-Juhan Truuväli – his era and future] at Tallinn University on 11 March 2020
The Chancellor’s speech on the 102nd anniversary of the Republic of Estonia in the North Estonia Medical Centre on 26 February 2020
The Chancellor’s speech at the presentation of the Enn Soosaar ethical essay competition award at Harju County Library on 13 February 2020
The Chancellor’s opening speech at the annual human rights conference on 10 December 2019
The Chancellor’s presentation at the 7th Estonian scientific language conference „Eestikeelne ja üleilmne teadus“ 21 November 2019
The Chancellor’s welcome at the annual meeting of the Estonian Paediatric Association on 31 October 2019
The Chancellor’s opening at the conference „Väärika vananemise võimalikkusest. Kuhu küll lõpeb rändaja tee? (G. Suits)” [On the possibility of dignified ageing. Where does a wanderer's road end?], on 8 October 2019
The Chancellor’s welcome at a conference of Tartu University Law Faculty alumni on 3 October 2019
Power talks
At the end of 2015, the Chancellor of Justice initiated an academic lecture series, entitled „Võim“ [Power], aiming to analyse power in all its possible manifestations. Apart from officials from the Chancellor’s Office, the Chancellor’s closest cooperation partners from the Riigikogu, agencies exercising public authority, as well as the private sector and NGOs, are invited to attend the lectures.
Lectures held from September 2019 to June 2020:
24 September 2019 Rein Raud „Jaapani hierarhilised võimusuhted“ [Hierarchical power relationships in Japan]
29 October 2019 Daniel Schaer „Aafrika võim: Tuleviku võimalused ja väljakutsed“ [Africa’s power: future opportunities and challenges]
12 December 2019 Dimitri Demjanov „Toidukunsti võim“ [The power of the culinary arts]
14 January 2020 Jaak Prints „Teatri võim“ [The power of theatre]
11 February 2020 Ivo Felt „Filmi ja kino võim 21. sajandil“ [The power of film and cinema in the 21st century]
15 June 2020 Kristjan Port „Igavese elu võimalikkus“ [The possibility of eternal life]