"It is true that we received a report from the Ministry of Defense regarding a suspicion that Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur may have disclosed state secrets during an ERR radio program," a statement from the ISS said. "The ISS reviewed the report through a supervisory procedure, and we can confirm that the defense minister did not disclose any state secrets."

"In the event of a suspicion that a state secret may have been disclosed, it is necessary to immediately notify the ISS. This is part of the standard procedures for protecting state secrets, which must always be followed," the statement added.

Earlier on Tuesday, unofficial sources said an official from the Ministry of Defense filed a report with the ISS about comments made by Pevkur during the September 2 broadcast of the Vikerraadio show "Välistund," where the minister explained NATO's defense plans.

Pevkur acknowledged that he was aware of an inquiry but maintained that he had a clear conscience.

"I know for sure that in no interview have I disclosed any classified documents or state secrets. I am aware that yes, something has been investigated," Pevkur told "Aktuaalne kaamera" news in response to a question about whether it was true that a complaint had been filed against him with ISS.

"But I also know that the Ministry of Defense's security department, which is directly responsible for this, has stated that there has been no leak. For me, this is a non-issue, and naturally, my conscience is clear. I will continue to defend the Estonian state," Pevkur added.

"It is a fact that we must always be prepared to explain publicly what we are doing in various areas of national defense. There are large sums of money involved, and the use of these funds must be transparent and justified," Pevkur continued.

When asked if there had been any further action taken on the complaint, Pevkur responded: "I cannot provide further comments on what has been done with it. I only know that, according to the Ministry of Defense, the security department has reviewed the matter and found no issues."

"I can imagine which interview is being referenced, but I can confirm that no sensitive information was disclosed in it," Pevkur said when asked if he knew which interview the complaint was based on.

Ministry: Pevkur has not disclosed a state secret  

Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Kaimo Kuusk said Pevkur had done nothing wrong.

"The Ministry of Defense's security department conducted an analysis and confirmed that the statements made by Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur on Vikerraadio's show "Välistund" did not contain state secrets or classified foreign information. No harm was caused to Estonia or NATO by the comments made on the program," Kuusk said in a written comment.

ISS: Important this case is not seen as complaining

The ISS must always be informed if there is a suspicion a state secret has been disclosed, said Harrys Puusepp, head of the agency's office. 

"This was not a complaint in the classic sense, but rather a requirement. Every time there is a suspicion that state secrets may have been exposed, one must notify the person or unit responsible for protecting classified information within their organization, and certainly the ISS as well," Puusepp said.

He confirmed that the report came from inside the ministry and the person who made it is known to the ISS.

Puusepp stressed that it was very important not to frame this as a complaint. "It is very important to share these doubts when they arise," he added.

The official said it is difficult for an ordinary person to know when a state secret may have been let slip.

"Typically, we are talking about people who have access to state secrets, who know exactly which documents or what type of information is classified and for what reason. Whether its disclosure could somehow harm, for example, our defense capabilities or national security — there can be various aspects to consider," Puusepp said.

"A state secret always belongs to the state; it is not the possession of any individual. The people who are most capable of drawing that line clearly are those who are first and foremost responsible for ensuring that the information remains confidential," he added.

Every person must protect state secrets, regardless of whether they have a state secret permit, Puusepp stressed.

He noted that if a person comes across information and suspects that it may be a state secret, they must turn to ISS first.

This article was updated to add comments from Kaimo Kuusk, the ISS, and Harrys Puusepp.

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