MP Defends KAPO Report as Preemptive Measure
While some critics have described an annual security report released last week as defamatory - for questioning a Tallinn deputy mayor's loyalty to his country - others stand in defense of the document, calling it a preventative tactic.
"I believe it was a preemptive measure revealing to the public the overly extensive contacts between an important local government official in our capital city and the diplomat of a country that is not very friendly in its relations with Estonia,” Väino Linde, a member of Parliament's committee on the oversight of security agencies, told uudised.err.ee.
"By drawing the public's attention, both of the individuals concerned can make conclusions about their behavior with regard to the future,” said the Reform Party MP.
“But if Mr. Kõlvart believes that his good name has been smeared, he has the right to demand damages through the court. As a former lawyer I suggest he seriously evaluate it before taking this step. To prove its claims, the security agency might reveal much more details from its archives than it did in the annual report,” said Linde.
Made public last week, the yearly security report publish by KAPO gave, among else, an overview of covert Russian Federation manipulation in Estonia, which described and revealed photographs of the activities of Tallinn Deputy Mayor Mihhail Kõlvart. Although KAPO expressed concern over the city official's activities, the agency was also careful to stress that Kõlvart had not done anything illegal as far as the report is concerned.
Among KAPO allegations was Russian manipulation of Kõlvart's campaigns to preserve Russian-language curriculum in Estonia's Russian high schools. Kõlvart has allegedly cooperated with an extremist group known as the Night Watch. The report also pointed to Kõlvart's personal relationship with a Russian Embassy diplomat.
Ott Tammik