Estonian President rejects amendments to demolish Soviet monuments

Estonian President Alar Karis did not accept the amendments approved by the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) that make it easier to dismantle Soviet monuments. This was reported on the website of the head of state.

President Karis explained the decision to reject the amendments by saying that they were "impossible to interpret". “Prohibited objects are designated in the law by an expression that cannot be unambiguously interpreted using generally accepted methods of interpretation,” he said.

According to Karis, the lack of clarity in the proposed amendments is contrary to the country's constitution. “The principle of legal clarity requires that the law be sufficiently clear and understandable so that everyone can anticipate the actions of the state and adjust their actions accordingly,” the president said.

The draft law amending the Building Code, the Law on the Application of the Building Code and the Planning Law was adopted by the deputies of the Riigikogu on 15 February.

“The public part of the building, as well as a publicly displayed monument, sculpture, memorial and other object must not incite hatred, support or justify the occupation regime, an act of aggression, genocide, a crime against humanity or a war crime,” the amendments said.