Sochi to miss just one Baltic Prime Minister

Photo: Reuters / Scanpix

Despite criticism, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip sticks to decision to visit Sochi winter Olympics starting this week.

Even while visiting Sochi Olympics as a private person, Estonian PM Andrus Ansip travels Russia with security team and attends opening ceremony with world leaders in VIP section.

This Thursday, Mr heads for Sochi games and skips the government meeting. For the trip, the prime minister takes a vacation, to be back in Estonia on Monday.

As assured by Mr Ansip yesterday, he intends to participate at opening ceremony and also to watch the games. He said he’d always attended Olympic Games with his family and paid up all related expenses from own pocket.

Thus, Mr Ansip attended the London summer games of 2012, and Beijing in 2008, as well as the Torino winter games in 2006. 

According to PM bureau chief Liina Kersna, Mr Ansip will be attended at the games by security guys, as is the norm everywhere. As stated by Central Criminal Police, police is obligated by law to protect the prime minister. «The protected person has no right to give up bodyguards or issue orders regarding its arrangements or length,» said police press secretary Kaarel Kuusk.

According to Ms Kersna, the Estonian PM will be directed to watch opening ceremony in the VIP area with other heads of state, not among ordinary visitors that have bought a ticket. Thus, the hosts will not be making any difference if the Estonian Prime Minister has paid for his own trip or is having an official visit to Russia.

No meetings

Thereby, Estonian PM trip privateness will mainly be limited to the fact that the Estonian taxpayer must not cover the costs of him and his family.

In Sochi, Mr Ansip has no meetings planned with other prime ministers or presidents; in addition to sports events and opening ceremony, he will visit a local Estonian village. During the Beijing summer Olympics, also attended by Mr Ansip during his vacation, he did meet both Chinese prime minister and President, however.

Leaders of many Estonia’s neighbours will be present, in Sochi. As Tallinn yesterday hosted an unofficial meeting of Baltic and Polish prime ministers, Postimees grabbed the opportunity to ask Latvian, Lithuanian and Polish prime ministers if they intended to go.

From Latvia, the President will go to Sochi; the prime minister Laimdota Straujuma said she wasn’t going. «The invitation was sent all at once to President [Andris Bērziņš] and me. As the President had earlier accepted the invitation to participate at opening ceremony, the Prime Minister will have, while he is absent, to take care of the country, so to speak.»

Lithuania’s prime minister Algirdas Butkevičius intends to go see opening ceremony, however. «I’m going to the Sochi games and I’ll be there for the opening ceremony. My goal is to support and encourage Lithuanian sportsmen. I’ve done sports myself and I desire that the sportsmen feel government’s support.»

Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaitė has earlier confirmed she isn’t going to Sochi, as also stated by Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.

Polish prime minister Donald Tusk, abstaining from Sochi opening ceremony, said this is not his custom. «I never went to London and Beijing openings either,» said Mr Tusk. According to him, the situation surrounding the Sochi games is not the best either.

Half thousand signatures

According to Estonian prime ministerial bureau, Sochi Olympics will, among others, be attended by the Dutch royal couple and prime minister, presidents of Greece, Hungary, Slovenia, Czech Republic, and Finland, Federal Chancellor of Austria, Crown Prince of Denmark and Prime Ministers of Romania, Finland, and Italy.

This Sunday, a host of Raadio 2 Olukorrast riigis (on Situation in the State) Anvar Samost initiated Internet signatures collecting campaign against Mr Ansip going to Sochi.

According to Mr Samost, Sochi games are aimed at beautifying Russian President Vladimir Putin’s activities limiting citizen rights, freedom of speech and rule of law. «Mr Ansip’s trip might look like a small thing; even so, it is characteristic of the power party as such – cynical pragmatism, prioritizing of personal interests,» Mr Samost said yesterday.

By last night, the address Let’s Help Ansip Take Right Decision, posted at website petitsioon.ee,  had garnered over 500 signatures. Setting up the petition, Mr Samost was aiming at a thousand supporters, believing this would be achieved during today.

«Basically, the goal has been achieved,» noted he. «Mr Ansip has been forced to explain the trip. There’s discussion happening, which was lacking up to now.»

Tarmu Tammerk, media ethics adviser at Public Broadcasting (ERR), yesterday published a comment over via ERR website, disapproving activities by Mr Samost to collect signatures.   

According to Mr Tammerk, it is wise for journalists to avoid activities as organising demonstrations or initiating political campaigns. «Initiating a campaign to stop prime minister’s trip to Sochi, was, regrettably, an inordinate exposure of the programme host’s preferences,» said he.

In addition to Mr Ansip, Estonia’s visitors to Sochi include the Tallinn mayor Edgar Savisaar and foreign minister Urmas Paet. The latter is participating as president of Estonian Paralympics Committee, towards the end of February, at the committee’s expense.