Ansip: KAPO Should Reveal the Truth About Savisaar Funds
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has once again slammed his main political rival Edgar Savisaar over the latter's alleged political funding from Russia and has suggested that the national counter intelligence agency, KAPO, should disclose more information about the case.
KAPO intelligence reports leaked to the press last week stated that the opposition Centre Party leader had received 1.5 million euros from a former high-ranking KGB officer to enhance the influence of the Russian Federation in Estonia.
In an interview with Postimees on December 20, Ansip said he believes that the KAPO should “lift the veil of mystery” from the story.
"From my point of view, such a request [by Savisaar for the money] is loathsome and disgusting. When the chairman of a party asks a former high-ranking KGB officer for money to organize elections, then how else could it be taken? The Estonian people should know about it, even if it can't be proven legally," said Ansip.
Savisaar stated that the money he received was to build a church in the Lasnamäe district of Tallinn and produced a document supporting his statement.
“I think [KAPO] could very easily say what Savisaar requested the money for. As I understand, Savisaar's defense is that he asked for the money for the elections, and that it just so happens that building the church is one of the themes of the elections, so there's nothing wrong with that,” the Prime Minister said.