Circuit Court upholds Savisaar's suspension

The Tallinn Circuit Court ruled that the suspension of Edgar Savisaar from his office as the Mayor of Tallinn was justified and did not overturn Harju County Court's decision from September 30.
The court of appeal agreed with state prosecutor Laura Vaigu that Savisaar may use his position to sway witnesses. Savisaar is suspect in a bribery investigation by the Internal Security Services and the State Prosecutor's Office. The investigation was made public on September 22 and is said to involve four episodes of corruption.
Savisaar's attorney Oliver Nääs said a suspension is a disproportionate measure that has no effect on the case and invades his client's basic rights.
According to Estonian laws, in four months time Savisaar or his attorney can submit a request to the court to have the justifications for the removal from office re-examined.
Editor: M. Oll