Border Guard boss becomes first victim of new director general

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu

Elmar Vaher, new director general of Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), is putting together his team, the first top level victim being Border Guard chief Tõnu Hunt (47), heading for diplomatic duties in Moscow.

Concerning the change of jobs for Mr Hunt, now a specialist diplomat, a «politically correct» press release was issued by Ministry of the Interior, yesterday. According to it, among the 39 candidates, Mr Hunt – with his 22 years of border guard experience – was the best choice.

In reality, it was a forced move for Mr Hunt, PPA deputy director general for Border Guard. Few would know that, to begin with, Mr Hunt did not run for the diplomatic post at all – entered into the race only after Mr Vaher rose to head the agency, in May.

The reform-minded Mr Vaher not envisioning Mr Hunt as member of his team-to-be; thus, adding his name to the list of candidates was an altogether logical decision. As a specialist of his field, Mr Hunt undoubtedly possesses vast experience in cooperating with the Eastern neighbours. Also: the new salary will doubtless be higher.

The forced nature of the move may be felt in Mr Hunt’s answers to questions posed by Postimees on why he entered the competition. «Director general proposed that I run, border guard having the broadest and longest experience in international cooperation,» he said.

According to Mr Hunt, he naturally feels sad to leave colleagues of over two decades. In the final stage of the competition, he ran against five candidates and won, as expected.

«I want to take the good practice the Border Guard has developed in relations with neighbouring countries into other areas of internal security as well. In border service, international cooperation is northing separate, but a natural inseparable part of everyday work,» said Mr Hunt.

«Such format and experience, where people on various levels have good contacts with officials of neighbouring countries, where communication is highly professional and matter-of-fact, free from formalities, must, more than ever, be also applied when it comes to topics related to police, citizenship, migration, rescue and regions,» he added.

The term of Ministry of the Interior’s current specialist diplomat in Moscow, one-time border guard chief of staff Rein Orav, expires on July 31^st.