Week in pictures: August 17-23
Undoubtedly the biggest news story of the week to concern Estonia was the sentencing of kidnapped security official Eston Kohver in Pskov regional court, Russia, to 15 years in prison. Many EU, US and NATO dignitaries expressed their disappointment in the affair and called for his immediate release.
On Tuesday, the Parliament approved the third Greek bailout plan in an extraordinary session.
A day after Kohver's sentencing hearing, Estonia celebrated its 24 years of sovereignity since regaining independence from the Soviet Union. A host of concerts, receptions and even a battle reenactments took place all over the country. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves held a traditional rose garden reception to thank those who were instrumental for the restoration of independence in 1991. Guests wore yellow ribbons in honor of imprison Estonian official Eston Kohver. Edgar Savisaar, the mayor of Tallinn, also made his first public appearance on the day after his battle with a life-threatening disease.
Also wearing yellow ribbons were foreign politicians visiting Tallinn this week. First, A delegation of US senators led by Senator John McCain, a former Republican presidential nominee, were in Estonia on Wednesday and Thursday to meet with Estonian government leaders.
On Sunday, the 76th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the Remembrance Day, Andrzej Duda, the new President of Poland, made his first foreign trip to Estonia to campaign for more NATO presence in Poland and the Baltics.
Editor: M. Oll