Deputy Mayor Hits Back at KAPO Insinuations (12)

Published: 12.04.2012 16:37

KAPO's report named a number of politicians, including Mihhail Kõlvart, it said were "pressuring" Russian schools to fight language transition.
( Photo: Postimees/Scanpix )

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Tallinn Deputy Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart has reacted to implications in the national security agency KAPO's annual report that his actions were being manipulated by Russia, calling his inclusion in the yearbook "offensive."

"This is a book that describes threats to the Estonian state. I can disagree with much that is happening in our country, I do not support the current ruling elite, but no one has the right to question the fact that I am a patriot of my country [...] including KAPO officials," Kõlvart told ETV in an interview.

In a section on Russia's supposed exploitation of the school language issue, the report outlines Kõlvart's activities in resisting reforms for Russian-curriculum high schools as well as his contact with Russian Embassy diplomat, Juri Tsvetkov.

The yearbook includes what appear to be clandestine photos of the two during a martial arts training session in which Kõlvart handed Tsvetkov a bundle of Estonian grade school history books. The photo caption reads: "Handing over history books to a diplomat of another country isn't a crime, but gives rise to unanswered questions."

Kõlvart said he did see anything suspicious going on in the photos and pointed out that, in addition to his duties as deputy mayor, he also coaches martial arts and the two roles are not connected.

According to Kõlvart, Tsevkov is studying Estonian language and has a background in history, which is why he had asked for the books.

"Do Estonian textbooks really consitute secret information? Trying to use these photographs as compromising material is ridiculous. They [KAPO] will have to do better than that," he said.

 

Steve Roman

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Comments (12)

  • Observer

    13.04.2012 00:47

    "no one has the right to question the fact that I am a patriot of my country", but which country? No patriot of Estonia would oppose education reforms that promote the Estonian language.

  • avatar

    knut_albers

    13.04.2012 10:12

    Let's not confuse Patriotism with Nationalism or Chauvinism. Patriotism simply means the love of one's country and may be related to its ethnicity, culture, politics, history or as I do, the constitutional patriotism for the positive commitment to the Constitution and its root of supranational ethical and political rights and values.

  • Jorma

    13.04.2012 10:48

    "No patriot of Estonia would oppose education reforms that promote the Estonian language." So beeing in opposition with laws made by the ruling coalition is treason then. Welcome to Putin-style governance in Estonia.

  • NKVD

    13.04.2012 11:10

    Imagine what the reverse situation happening in Russia.

  • Observer

    13.04.2012 13:30

    Given that the Estonian language is at the core of the Estonian identity and the preamble of the Estonian constitution states "With unwavering faith and a steadfast will to strengthen and develop the state, ... which shall guarantee the preservation of the Estonian nation, language and culture through the ages", it is not clear to me how anyone professing to be a patriot of Estonia would work to weaken the standing of the Estonian language. After all, Russian is spoken across eleven time zones, it seems rather toady to work against the Estonian language in the tiny patch of earth where it is spoken by a majority.

  • Mart Mang

    13.04.2012 13:41

    Estonia should get Congressman West from the US House of Representatives to ferret out the commies in your parliament. He's found about 90 in America...

  • Balance

    13.04.2012 14:25

    @Observer: Your reasoning only makes sense if you assume that any acting in favour for Russian language schools is against the Estonian language. This view of things is much oversimplified and has the tendency to paint all in black and white to spread hate. Is the German Gymnasium in Tallinn also outcome of an unpatriotic act?

  • ameeriklane

    13.04.2012 16:17

    Well I do agree with one of his points: children's textbooks are not exactly secret information.

  • Observer

    14.04.2012 00:33

    @Balance, the German Gymnasium is bilingual school offering instruction primarily in Estonian from grades 1 to 6 and in German from grade 7 onwards. Our dear "patriot" is working to preserve monolingual Russian language education at the expense of the future prospects of the children.

  • avatar

    knut_albers

    20.04.2012 11:39

    "(...) the German Gymnasium is bilingual school offering instruction primarily in Estonian from grades 1 to 6 and in German from grade 7 onwards" So, the German Gymnasium is unpatriotic from grade 7 on only. However, it is about "preservation", not about textbooks. Also, do not forget the Declaration of Independence, the principle of the constitution, which clearly states that "all ethnic minorities, the Russians, Germans, Swedes, Jews, and others residing within the borders of the republic, shall be guaranteed the right to their cultural autonomy."

  • Observer

    24.04.2012 12:23

    @Knut, it is sad that you think that Estonian/German bilingualism is unpatriotic, I guess the thought of the noble German language being spoken together with a peasant language like Estonian must be a repulsive concept for you.

  • avatar

    knut_albers

    24.04.2012 13:57

    Observer, only the authorities in their own motion would come to such technically speaking conclusions. Von Amts wegen (ex officio).