50 weightiest 2015 news in Estonia
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1
Mr Savisaar’s corruption scandal engulfs well-known businessmen.
Mr Savisaar lost post of Tallinn’s Mayor.
Corruption accusation: Edgar Savisaar accepted large bribes from well-known businessmen in Estonia.
2
Corruption of Port of Tallinn managers
On August 26th, security police detained members of Port of Tallinn board Ain Kaljurand and Allan Kiil. Prosecutors say the sums accepted as bribes amounted to millions of euros.
3
«Tangerines» and «The Fencer» at Oscar
In historic first, a movie presented by Estonia and produced with Georgians, «Tangerines» ran for Golden Globe and Oscar. «The Fencer» in Estonian and pro-Estonia, blazes the same trail with only Oscar nomination yet lacking.
4
Potential arrival of refugees splits society
This spring, the usual influx into Europe was extraordinarily large. The quotas to receive these people as set by Brussels have split many a society in Europe, including Estonia.
5
Estonian Air’s bankruptcy and birth of Nordic Aviation Group
On November 7th, European Commission declared state aid to Estonian Air illegal and to be paid back. The company immediately stopped operations and the next day flights ordered by the new national carrier NAG took off.
6
New parties break into the parliament
At March 1st elections, two newcomers EKRE and the Free entered Riigikogu. Reform and IRL lost 16 seats between the two, the Free got eight and EKRE seven.
7
Transferwise’s success story
– rise to $1bn start-up
On January 26th a $58m investments round into the start-up established by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Käärmann as pulled by Andreessen Horowitz from USA was published. Financial Times wrote the deal took value of Transferwise close to $1bn.
8
Mr Savisaar falls ill on March 18th and finally loses leg by amputation due to infection above right knee
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9
Swine fever reaches farms
First detected on July 21st, a total of over 20,000 pigs have been slaughtered as African swine fever spread.
10
Eston Kohver receives sentence and gets back home
Kidnapped from Estonian border on September 5th last year, on August 19th Russian court sentenced security police officer Mr Kohver with 15 years of imprisonment for alleged espionage. On September 26th the man was back in Estonia as exchanged on border for Aleksei Dressen found guilty in treason three years ago.
11
Bad election results bring new leaders to IRL and Soc Dems
Urmas Reinsalu (IRL) and Sven Mikser (Soc Dems) were replaced by Margus Tsahkna and Jevgeni Ossinovski, respectively.
12
President divorces in spring, betroths woman from Latvia
Having announced the divorce on April 17th, Toomas Hendrik Ilves was betrothed to Ieva Kupce this December.
13
Taxi market rocked by Uber and other apps
Uber having arrived in Estonia on May 15th, and the ministry unsure whether it was illegal or not, snatching the opportunity native Taxify entered as well – to the dismay of «real» taxi drivers.
14
Reform wins elections,
Taavi Rõivas continues as Prime Minister.
15
Power struggle in Centre Party, Kadri Simson challenges Edgar Savisaar as chairman but loses narrowly.
16
World famed Robert stages an Arvo Pärt concert to lead in the latter’s 80th jubilee. In movie format, «Adam’s Passion» is to reach 40 to 50 million viewers.
17
US Embassy secretly surveys people in Tallinn
At end of May, Postimees published a classified document revealing as with approval of interior ministry the embassy of USA is surveying people in central Tallinn and compiles reports regarding their movements.
18
Vjatšeslav Leedo and Mr Miil move ferryboats to Germany to travel the Elbe between Cuxhaven and Brunsbüttel. Estonia’s and mainland-islands connection moved back in time.
19
Three Estonian mountaineers perish in an accident in Peru.
20
Euribor, the base interest, entered minus territory – easing life for home loan owners.
21
Accident at Harju Rally race claiming three lives among spectators.
22
Cheap life: prices drop
Deflation in Estonia continues throughout the year. Most felt for consumer were the lower fuel and milk prices. Meanwhile, services became a bit dearer due to wage rise.
23
Scandal erupts as Tax Board starts to survey company cars – like in sports clubs parking lots – rocking chair of the chief Marek Helm. In a month, the Board backed down.
24
Estonian Olympic Committee president Neinar Seli gets convicted for wrong ways of getting money for sports.
25
A lady pensioner leads a broad based «passport mafia» featuring 12 people, arrested for illegal documents like residence permits arranged for foreigners.
26
Four young lives lost in car accident in Tartu County on August 3rd. The driver (23) was under heavy intoxication by alcohol.
27
State salary created for writers and artists. Starting January 2016, five of both category draw €805.86 a month. Listing: Maarja Kangro, Indrek Koff, Mihkel Mutt, Jürgen Rooste and Tõnu Õnnepalu, and Kaido Ole, Marge Monko, Kris Lemsalu, Mark Raidpere and Anu Vahtra.
28
Mart Seim wins bronze medal at weight lifting World Championship.
29
NO99 theatre made it to the prestigious Avignon festival with Tiit Ojasoo and Ene-Liis Semper’s «My wife got angry».
30
Economic adviser to Prime Minister, Ruta Arumäe set a question mark over competence of the government by noting Taavi Rõivas never wanted her opinion and Estonia, visionless, was led with an Excel table. The article by her was widely read and the Reform Party responded with personal attacks on her.
31
Lutheran Church gets a new leader in Urmas Viilma.
32
People are disappearing – a lot of them, with over 3,300 cases tackled by police this year. Missing persons include many who are young.
33
Estonians in rally racing: Mr Tänak made «history» by drowning car in lake. Both got out by skin of teeth.
34
Bus market opened up and was shaken up by Scottish Superbus entering and talking about a few euros a ticket between major cities.
35
Parliament members make waves with costs compensation used to lease luxury cars for themselves and family members. That’s a yearly phenomenon.
36
On July 5th in Tartu County, airborne trampoline in wind at birthday party kills two children and three are hospitalised.
37
Sculptor Kris Lemsalu shines at
New York’s Frieze art exhibition with his installation «Whole Alone 2» picked among top five.
38
Tallinn gets new trams (street cars) from Spain for CO” quota money.
39
Anett Kontaveit rises to be Estonian top female tennis player replacing Kaia Kanepi.
40
Former ASBL Eesti Euroopa head Anna-Maria Galojan taken from UK, where she was hiding for three months, to Tallinn’s Harku Prison on February 19th for embezzlement of €60,000. Released on July 14th she headed back to London.
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41
Estonian band Cartoon picked best newcomer by
Drum and Bass Arena.
42
Margus Linnamäe becomes sole owner of Eesti Meedia (parent to Postimees). Mart Kadastik exits at 32 years at Eesti Meedia’s helm.
43
Freestyle skier Kelly Sildaru (13) beats world’s best.
44
Widespread corruption unearthed at technical inspection of vehicles and driving examinations.
45
Trucking company Autorollo scandal leads to resignation of foreign minister Keit Pentus-Rosimannus. The case continues in Supreme Court.
46
As a marker, Estonia’s volleyball team play at European Championship finals.
47
Priit Toobal, Lauri Laasi and Centre Party found guilty at Supreme Court for incidents of enticement for surveillance and falsification. Two days before conviction, Mr Toobal announced exiting Riigikogu – the real reason then being luring schoolboys to have sauna with him.
48
Soc Dems experience change of power and swap several ministers: former chairman Sven Mikser bows out to let Hannes Hanso be defence minister. Instead of Rannar Vassiljev, new chairman Jevgeni Ossinovski becomes health/labour minister. Urve Palo ceded entrepreneurship portfolio to Liisa Oviir.
49
After a long while, Estonia sings in Eurovision finals finally placing 7th. 106 points.
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50
As revealed in University of Tartu study, the Estonian male isn’t the stereotype after bigger cars and younger women. What they want is love, kids and a home.
