Pihl ordered KAPO to retire former KGB operatives.
Postimees Digest, Wednesday, August 14
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Former head of the Estonian Security Police Board (KAPO) Jüri Pihl says in an interview that the agency employed people with KGB backgrounds in the 1990s because they were the only ones capable of making use of surveillance technology left behind by the Soviet special service at the time. Pihl also says that former KGB agents were informed that they are not eligible for promotion right from the start. He adds that while he ordered heads of the agency to retire former KGB operatives when he became internal minister in 2007, the order was not carried out. Pihl says that while uncovering a spy is less unpleasant than failure to do so, it is nevertheless difficult for KAPO to explain why Vladimir Veitmann was kept on until 2011 in a situation where all other former KGB operatives had by that time retired. The prosecution recently arrested former KGB technical operative Vladimir Veitmann on suspicions of spying for Russian special services during his time with KAPO.
Management looking to redeem Eesti Meedia.
Chairman of the board of Estonia's leading media group Eesti Meedia AS Mart Kadastik and board members Toomas Issak and Meelis Luht are looking to buy the group from Norwegian owner Schibsted in connection with the latter's strategic shift towards advertising. According to Kadastik, Eesti Meedia is determined to stay on its journalistic course and hold on to its position as the leading media company in the Baltic countries. "They (Scibsted) accept our position and mission and feel very much socially responsible for what will happen," Kadastik said. He added that while the management board's move is not a rescue operation as the company would have been maintained either way, it will keep the group from being reorganized. Heads of Eesti Meedia are considering various alternatives in terms of financing the transaction, including loan money and issue of securities. Examples of media companies owned by Eesti Meedia AS include AS Postimees, AS SL Õhtuleht (50 percent), AS Kanal 2 and OÜ Scanpix Baltics.
Kanter takes fifth world championships medal.
Estonian discus thrower Gerd Kanter secured the bronze medal at the IAAF World Championship Moscow 2013 yesterday with a throw of 65.19 meters. The 2008 Summer Olympics gold medalist said he was not happy with his performance and that winner Robert Harting and silver medalist Piotr Malachowski competed in a league of their own yesterday.