Jevgenia Värä: instincts, words and deeds

Jevgenia Värä
, Postimehe vene toimetuse juhataja
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Stubbornly, consensus in Estonia regarding integration remains elusive. As observed by Jevgenia Värä, editor-in-chief for Postimees in Russian: in some issues, it is still easier for parties to only speak Estonian or Russian.

On integration-related elections debate initiated by Postimees, two main conclusions can be drawn. Firstly: by Reform Party, IRL has conclusively been squeezed out of the national party niche; and secondly: for some reason, Centre Party and the soc dems (SDE) shy away from addressing the issue in Estonian language media.

The grand surprise of the series came as article by Anvar Samost (IRL). By criticism and promises, he is remarkably ahead of addresses by both Jaak Allik (SDE) and Mihhail Stalnuhhin (Centre Party).

With Mr Samost, only two faults are to be found. Firstly, while comparing the author’s stands to party platform, one may guess this is rather the personal opinion of Mr Samost’s and not of IRL. And secondly, we are having to do with a party relatively recently out of coalition.

Thus, as the author bemoans the state’s absence from Ida-Virumaa except for University of Tartu Narva College and the prison, it would be relevant to ask: why, while IRL was in power, it was just the education ministry that moved – and that to Tartu?

Summing it up, it is remarkable enough to have an article like that penned by one from IRL. Even so, the questions and promises pronounced therein I’d esteem as highly as the journalists Viktoria Ladõnskaja and Maksim Rogalski joining IRL. They haven’t signed up to gain the party some extra Russian votes by use of the «Russian topic», but rather to serve notice: IRL’s understanding of conservative values is broader by now than the language-culture-history trio – a bit a bother already, for electorate – and welcome to be shared with non-Estonian voters as well.

Considering IRL’s stand regarding tax and family policy, and that the list of candidates has been joined by defenders of the handicapped like Tiina Kangro, the new more social trend might be worthy of all praise. Possibly, by this the party will harvest some future Russian votes but there’s too little time left till March 1st to hope a significant breakthrough at these elections already.

Reform Party, however, has by now conclusively filled the anti-Russian niche. By Jürgen Ligi, this is of course worded in a manner more politically correct. «That fragment of the nation» has «instincts more leftish» and therefore the right-wing Reform Party has nothing to offer to non-Estonians. The less so when the non-Estonians are about some personal interests that differ from those of the «ordinary inhabitants of Estonia».

Surely, there are plenty of people in Estonia that share and support the stand taken by Mr Ligi. Thus, if this be the solid choice of «squirrels», no need to criticise it. Still, a question will be left hanging: for what cause then does Deniss Boroditš toil diligently in Ida-Virumaa, and why is Laine Randjärv so active about integration? Why enroll the fencer Nikolai Novosjolov to be buried in the basement of the list of candidates if the party was unable to even use such a valuable and existing card as Andrei Korobeinik? This is an obvious waste of resources, isn’t it? If it’s without Russians, then without Russians let it be – firmly forwards!

Interestingly, a participant in the debate to claim that non-Estonians lack their own specific interests (barring the issue of language of instruction at gymnasiums) is Mihhail Stalnuhhin as representing Centre Party. This may be interpreted as a signal that, this year, the Centre Party vs Reform Party confrontation may rather centre on economy than the «Russian card» (or that Centre Party would at least wish it to be so). Other than that, there’s nothing much to say about the article by Mr Stalnuhhin. This time, he didn’t even use his famous sarcasm and remained very general in his wording.

As it often happens, the soc dem talk is very vague. Usually, less words and more deeds is required from politicians; with soc dems it’s all the other way round. Currently, while in the coalition, SDE is actually doing quite a lot for integration, one may say, but they cannot present it normally – neither to the people, nor to opponents. 

Like: when last week education minister Jevgeni Ossinovski came out with his proposals regarding Russian gymnasium, everybody pointed out that the ministry wants to waive the 60 percent Estonian language study; but, highly interestingly, even the revolutionary proposal to instead ensure that graduates from Russian schools would by end of 12th grade have C1 (the highest level) command of the Estonian language went almost unnoticed.

The opinion by Estonian Conservative People’s Party leader Mart Helme might come under the satirical comedy category. At times, to grasp the weaknesses of an idea, take it to the absurd. In Russia – a land well known to Mr Helme [as former Estonian ambassador – edit] – this is mastered by Vladimir Žirinovski.

The new-Estonianhood talk by Free Party people Sergei Metlev and Jevgeni Krištafovitš is rather interesting while it remains unclear how the tiny Free Party intends to help birthing the new identity. It’s also a bit funny how the authors are unable to decide whether to write about non-Estonians from the position of «we» or «they». But, whatever – birthing new-Estonianhood can’t be easy, can it?

All told, again one gets the sad impression that, on certain subjects, it is easier for the parties to only speak Estonian or Russian. Which is a regrettable misconception – there’s no such problem where, with an honest discussion, common ground could not be found.

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