✔︎ Over $1 trillion flowed through Estonia in 2008-2017"
- Multiple sources; see Thursday
✔︎ "The Danske scandal has stunned Europe as the region comes to grips with clear signs of wide-spread abuses in which high-profile banks repeatedly turned a blind eye to the movement of suspicious funds.”
- The Week (Uk)
✔︎ Just days before Latvia goes to the polls in parliamentary elections, a major constitutional change was made that will alter the way a state president is chosen. | October 6 is election day in Latvia.
- Latvian Broadcasting
✔︎ Book review: “The Story of BATUN” by Sirje Okas Ainso
- Jaak Treiman in Estonian World
- Foto:
- 2014-2018 Archive:
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Friday 5. October
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- Laulukaar on Muutunud ‘Skeletiks'
(Postimees | ERR)
"Tallinna lauluväljakul algasid septembris laulukaare renoveerimistööd. Plaanis on välja vahetada puitlaudis ja katteplekk, samuti korrastatakse laululava fassaadid.”
—
 |
| Foto: Eero Vabamägi | Postimees 4. okt. 2018 |
- Song Festival arch renovations in full swing
(ERR)
- Kas keelesugulus on päris sugulus? Geenid vastavad
(ERR)
"Tartu Ülikooli geneetikud uurisid, kui sarnased on Uurali keelte läänepiiril elavad eestlased ja kõik teised Uurali keeli rääkivad rahvad omavahel ning kas keeltes nähtav sugulus peegeldub nende geenides."
- Paper: Genes reveal traces of common recent demographic history for most of the Uralic-speaking populations
(BioMed Central)
- Estonia, Denmark, the Netherlands to provide cyber contributions to NATO
(Estonian World | ERR | Baltic Times)
"Mattis said to reporters at a meeting of NATO defence ministers on 3 October that the US will make its cyber warfare capabilities available to NATO as the allies denounced an alleged Russian bid to hack the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. He noted that the attempted attack showed how cyberattacks were becoming “more frequent, more complex and more destructive."
—
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- Security of the Baltic Sea Region
Rīga Conference 2018
(Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
“… a collection of articles reflecting on the security of the Baltic Sea region amid the Baltic Centenary. Authors from the region and beyond discuss the transforming regional security policies and realities. Particular attention is devoted to the Transatlantic link, as well as the role of Russia in the regional security constellation."
- Half of Russian Youth Say They’re Unaware of Stalinist Repressions
(The Moscow Times)
"Forty-seven percent of Russian respondents aged 18-24 told the VTsIOM pollster that they were hearing about Stalin-era repressions for the first time, according to the results of a survey published on Friday. The figure contrasts with 80-percent awareness of the period among the general population and 88.5 percent among respondents aged 45 and over.”
- Poland’s risky ‘America first’ policy
(Politico-Europe)
"Poles, who have enjoyed 25 years of spectacular economic growth and rising living standards since the fall of communism, may pay a high price financially and politically for their government’s escalating defiance of EU norms on judicial independence, without gaining any greater protection against Russian President Vladimir Putin.”
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Thursday 4. October
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✔︎ Banks in Estonia Handled $1 Trillion in Flows Dwarfing Danske
by Ott Ummelas
(Multiple sources)
"Danske Bank A/S has become almost synonymous in Denmark with laundering. But there are growing signs that it only represents a small slice of Europe’s dirty money machine.”
-
--
"The Banks That Helped Danske Bank Estonia Launder Russian Money.”
"It wasn’t just Estonia that attracted huge flows. Comparable figures for Latvia and Cyprus -- both major channels for Russian capital flowing into the EU -- are 2.8 trillion euros and 3.4 trillion euros, respectively, according to data provided by the European Central Bank and covering the same time period."
"Danske Bank faces a U.S. criminal investigation into a 200 billion euro ($230 billion) money laundering scandal at its Estonian branch which has rocked investor faith in Denmark’s biggest lender and forced its chief executive to quit.”
- Juhtkiri: Suured masinad on Danske asjas käima pandud
(Postimees)
"Eesti valitsus tellib rahapesu kohta oma raporti. USA prokurörid avavad kriminaaljuurdluse Danske Bankis toimunud rahapesu uurimiseks. Ajaleht Financial Times avaldas katkeid vihjeandja kirjadest, kus osutatakse Venemaa presidendile Vladimir Putinile. Lugu pole veel kaugeltki lõppenud ega ka süüdlased pääsenud."
- Danske Bank kinnitas, et on USA võimude uurimise all
(ERR)
"Taani pank kinnitas pressiteates, et on saanud USA justiitsministeeriumilt teabenõudeid, mis puudutavad kriminaalmenetlust, mida USA võimud teostavad seoses Eesti filiaali tegevusega."
- Eesti Bank: Press Release
"In a news article published today, Bloomberg erroneously said that 900 billion euros’ worth of non-residents’ payments passed through Estonia in 2008-2015. These 900 billion euros are actually the aggregate amount of cross-border payments received in Estonia and paid from Estonia. The sum includes import and export by Estonian companies as well as routine financial transactions such as securities purchases."
- How Estonia’s money-laundering scandal unfolded
(The Week - Uk)
- Government wants independent Danske report
(ERR)
"While the fact is not widely known, Estonia has a government anti-money laundering committee. It was created in the spring of 2016 and is made up of representatives of several ministries, the tax board, prosecution, police, Bank of Estonia and the financial watchdog. The committee is currently deliberating whether legislation should be amended in light of Danske’s case."
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- Eesti välisteenistuse tugevdamine
(Diplomaatia)
"Uuringus käsitletakse välisteenistuse pikaajalist arendamist ja tugevdamist mitmekülgselt ja kõikehõlmavalt, alustades Eesti välispoliitiliste huvide sõnastamisest ning lõpetades välisteenistujate ametisse määramise ja motiveerimisega."
- Analüüs (PDF)
- Estonia calls for EU unity, not uniformity
(BNN)
"Estonian Prime Minister Jüri Ratas has made a speech at the European Parliament in France, where he stressed the need for unity in the European Union, but one that recognises the different views of member states.”
- I stepped down as U.S. ambassador to Estonia. Here’s why.
by James D. Melville Jr.
(Washington Post)
"Russia and its corrupt, authoritarian government are a threat to the rules-based order and the fundamental values and interests of the United States and its allies. Trump’s habit of denigrating our allies and their leaders while lauding Putin and other authoritarians is no way to lead. It placed me in an untenable position in Tallinn whenever I was asked, as chief of mission, to explain our intentions."
--
"I had no choice but to resign. I have no sympathy or understanding for those who remain in government service while claiming to be ignoring or otherwise violating their instructions. I certainly don’t understand an anonymous op-ed proclaiming some right to fight a rear-guard action behind the president’s back. That approach is devoid of integrity and seems cowardly to me."
- Book review: “The Story of BATUN”
by Jaak Treiman
(Estonian World - August 2018)
"Not enough attention is paid to the Baltic independence movement that took place outside of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The movement consisted of many component parts, each having a common goal but operating mostly independently."
--
"While no one entity or person, inside or outside of the Baltic states, can legitimately claim sole responsibility for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania reacquiring independence, the organisation 'Baltic Appeal to the United Nations' (BATUN) made a unique contribution. Sirje Okas Ainso’s book, “The Story of BATUN: Baltic Appeal to the United Nations”, is a chronological presentation of the work done by BATUN’s members. It sets out a step-by-step outline of the audacious goals of the independence movement and shows the part played by BATUN in transforming the audacious into the attainable."
- Raamat BATUNist on hindamatu ajalooallikas
(Vaba eesti Sõna)
- "Baltic Appeal to the United Nations" published
(Delfi Lithuania)
"The author is Estonian-born Sirje Okas Ainso, who grew up in exile in Argentina, where she graduated from the National University of Buenos Aires. Her family then emigrated to the US and she joined BATUN in 1969, becoming an activist, a delegate to the UN permanent missions in New York, and to the Commission of Human Rights in Geneva."
- How Britons can get an EU passport after Brexit
(The Week)
"According to new figures obtained by the BBC from 17 out of 27 EU member states, the number of Britons granted citizenship of another EU country increased by 158% between 2016 and last year."
--
"The huge rise is obviously driven by the prospect of Brexit, which is very likely to make UK citizenship much less useful for working, living and travelling elsewhere in the EU.”
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2018 Latvian
Saeima Elections
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- Why Latvian Elections Matter for Europe
by Una Bergmane
(FPRI)
"On October 6, Latvians will elect a new parliament, and the results of these elections will have consequences beyond the borders of this Baltic state, as they might bring to power forces that would push for closer relations with Russia either because of their political convictions or their business interests. This article offers a pre-election panorama of the main political forces and gives poll-based predictions of possible changes in Latvian politics."
- Saeima approves open vote to choose Latvian state President
(Latvian Broadcasting)
"Just days before Latvia goes to the polls in parliamentary elections, Saeima approved a major constitutional change that will alter the way a state president is chosen."
- Geopolitical meaning of the Latvian elections
(Warsaw Institute)
"Citizens will be choosing their representatives to the unicameral parliament – Saeima. In order to achieve a majority which would allow them to govern, they have to win 51 out of 100 mandates. None of the Latvian political parties is able to gain such a strong endorsement. Polls show that the future parliament may have many shades. As many as seven parties, one more than in the last term, can exceed the five percent election threshold. The results of particular parties will be probably more fragmented comparing to the previous term."
- How the election process works
(Latvian Broadcasting | LETA)
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—
- Security Police tipped about vote buying
(Latvian Broadcasting | LETA)
--
- All Latvian electorate parties see rise in popularity
(LETA)
- Opinion: The Riga Test 2018: Latvia 200?
by Julian Lindley-French
(Personal Blog)
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Wednesday 3. October
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- Täna puudub otsene oht, et Venemaa tungib Balti riikidess
Andrei Kuzitškin
(Postimees)
- Norway: A New Cold Front in Russia’s Information War
(Foreign Policy)
"As NATO’s footprint grows in Norway, Moscow may be using an espionage case to inflame the country’s internal divisions. … Russia is not just unhappy with Norway’s continued support for sanctions and its role in conducting surveillance for NATO but also with its decision last year to allow U.S. Marines to be stationed on its soil."
--
"Officially, they are there for training purposes, but it’s the first foreign force to be based in Norway since World War II—and a response to Russia’s more aggressive posture both in the region and farther afield. The Norwegian Defense Ministry announced this summer that the deployment would be more than doubled, to 700 U.S. troops, and moved further north, closer to the border with Russia. The Russian Embassy in Oslo responded with a sharp rebuke”
- Belarus-Russia Talks: ‘Difficult But Productive’
(Riddle)
"New ‘difficult but productive’ talks took place on September 21. In the aftermath, Lukashenko discussed finalised agreements and their implementation with his government. Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed the two counterparts will meet again on October 11-12. That meeting will take place in Mogilev, Belarus. It will happen under the umbrella of the ‘Fifth Forum of Regions of Belarus and Russia.’"
--
"However, frequent meetings between heads of states are no proof of good relations. There are several unresolved disputes between the two countries festering beneath the surface. …"
- Belarus Navigates Rough Waters
(Jamestown Org.)
- Crying Wolf on Belarus
by Brian Whitmore
(CEPA)
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Tuesday 2. October
_____________
- Eesti Gaas ostab LNG-punkerlaeva
(ERR)
- Eesti Gaas orders 6,000-cubic-metre LNG barge
(ERR)
- How Estonia Is Leading the Charge in E-Citizenship
(Fortune)
[Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid interview at the 'Most Powerful Women Summit' in Laguna Niguel, Calif.]
- Arvamus: Kas Putin ajas suure sõjamänguga NATO-le hirmu peale või usub tõesti piiratud tuumasõja võimalikkusse?
(Postimees)
- Commentary: Delinking the Baltic electricity grid from Russia on Brussels’ dime
(Intellinews)
- The eurozone: Growth offers hope
(Chatham House)
"To outsiders, especially Anglo-American outsiders, the eurozone economy sometimes appears to have only two settings: ‘acute crisis’ and ‘semi stagnation’. Most media coverage falls into these two well-worn clichés."
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Russia
“Trust No One"
_____________
- On Russian TV, Brett Kavanaugh Is a Victim of “the Plague of Malignant Feminism”
(The Intercept)
"Vladimir Putin’s favorite pundit, Dmitry Kiselyov, dismissed the sexual assault accusation against Kavanaugh, by “physics professor Christine Blasey Ford,” as “like a joke.” Kiselyov also warned Russian viewers to beware of what he termed an illness “spreading from America to Europe and toward Russia,” in which “the infected ladies project their sexual fantasies onto men who have a successful life and career, accusing them of attempted rape.”
- Russia's 1993 crisis still shaping Kremlin politics, 25 years on
(Deutsche Welle)
"On September 21, 1993, Yeltsin dissolved both legislative bodies, overstepping his authority. The Supreme Soviet and the Congress of People's Deputies reacted by voting to remove him from office. The tension over this de facto dual power structure escalated on October 3, when armed opponents of the president stormed the Moscow mayor's office and the television station Ostankino.”
--
"Yeltsin deployed the army, attacking the White House on October 4. Tanks fired short-range shots in broad daylight, setting the building ablaze. Images of the charred facade spread around the world. In total, more than 100 people died. Yeltsin prevailed and, in December 1993, held a referendum on a new constitution that consolidated and strengthened his authority. This new power structure centered around the president is enjoyed to this day by Yeltsin's successor at the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin. … Yeltsin wanted a constitution in which the president was untouchable."
- The Day The Russian White House Was Shelled
(RFERL)
"A Russian constitutional crisis came to a dramatic climax 25 years ago, on October 4, 1993, when President Boris Yeltsin ordered the army to shell Moscow’s parliament building. Official figures put the final death toll in the crisis at 187. Others say up to 2,000 may have died.”
- Kafka comes to life in Kaliningrad
(Open Democracy)
"After police and pro-government media disrupt a public event in Kaliningrad, it’s time to examine the forms of pressure on Russian civil society."
- Russia’s Image Tanks in the West
(The New Yorker)
- Bungling agents leave Putin exposed in the global spotlight
(The Guardian)
"Botched missions in Salisbury and The Hague may prompt Russian leader to reassess his targeting of the west."
- Opinion: No, Mr. Putin, the Bungled Spying Won’t Blow Over
Bloomberg)
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