Tallinn mayor's suspension finalized as Supreme Court rejects appeal
The decision to suspend Edgar Savisaar from the mayor's office pending criminal investigation against him was finalized today as the Supreme Court decided not to proceed with the appeal launched by Savisaar's lawyer Oliver Nääs.
Nääs had appealed Tallinn Circuit Court's decision from October 23 to not overturn Harju County Court's ruling to suspend Savisaar from mayor's office in relation to a criminal investigation into corruption allegations.
The circuit court had earlier found that the decision to remove Savisaar from office to ensure that he cannot sway Tallinn City Government officials, who the prosecution say are potential witnesses in his case, or seek to destroy or hide documentary evidence, was justified.
According to Estonian laws, anyone whose employment has been terminated pending a criminal investigation can submit a request to court and ask for a re-examination of the suspension four months after the original ruling. Savisaar was suspended on September 30. If the grounds for the suspension no longer hold, Savisaar will be reinstated.
Nääs called the suspension an unnecessarily and disproportionate measure, which gives no guarantees about the investigation but limits Savisaar's personal rights.
The suspended mayor and Center Party chairman is a suspect in four episodes of corruption: unjustified extension of a lease contract for which he obtained benefits; allowing the construction of a house that lacked a building permit to continue in return for assets; exchange of land plots and promised compensation; and an episode connected to a tender, for which property or assets were obtained.
Editor: M. Oll