Estonian interior minister to nominate Arnold Sinisalu for security police chief

Photo: Toomas Huik

Estonia's Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher will nominate Arnold Sinisalu for director general of the security police.

The incumbent director general, Raivo Aeg, whose term in office ends on June 15, declined the minister's proposal to stay on the job for another five years.

Vaher described his candidate as a dedicated leader and a highly trustworthy public servant conversant with the area of security. "Arnold Sinisalu has a top education as well as long-time experience in the system, he has held very different positions and knows well both the staff and the different sectors of the system. Sinisalu has over years taken an active part in legislative drafting and developed international cooperation of security institutions," he said.

Sinisalu has consented to run for director general of the security police.

A native of Kardla, the main town on Hiiumaa Island, Sinisalu graduated from the police academy of the Interior Ministry in 1992 and obtained a doctor's degree from the law department of the University of Tartu in 2012. He has worked in various, mostly senior positions at the security police since 1993, serving currently as deputy director general.

The director general of the security police is appointed to office by the government at the interior minister's proposal after hearing the opinion of the parliamentary legal affairs committee and the security agencies surveillance select committee.