Eastern neighbour rattling parents in Estonia

Photo: Kuvatõmmis

Since last fall, Estonia features non-profit organisation Parents of Estonia which has sent letters to social affairs committee of Riigikogu and social ministry and has appeared on Tallinn TV regarding Estonia’s new Child Protection Act facilitating removal of children from parents.

Sounds strange? And yet, as at today, close to 3,000 people have signed their public petition available at the website. While for starters lion’s share of names were Russian-like, increasingly Estonian ones are added. At the Facebook, over 300 people have voiced support.

Now, the organisation registered in a North-Tallinn apartment is calling people to demonstrate in front of Norwegian Embassy, on Harju St, on May 30^th. Grandly, this is called Baltic Chain of Parents.

In their Facebook call, the organisation says this is part of a world-wide meeting before Norwegian embassies in 15 nations. «Why Norway?» ask the organisers, proceeding to answer: «In that nation, the officials act in the manner most brutal. And Estonia’s «child protection act» has been created after the Norwegian pattern.»

Threatening removal of kids

So what ought we to protest against? «I am against the Child Protection Act bill as the application of it would endanger the family, provides basis for abuse by officials, to separate children for any reason (pretext) from normal families, which will cause great psychological trauma to children, as well as children often channelled for adoption abroad which will all facilitate the dying out of Estonian nation.»

The website provides playback of Tallinn TV programme «Think Again» where host Andres Raid starts off by writing the word «family» on a piece of paper and crosses it off, to show that as the gay bill and child protection act enter into force in 2016, the notion will disappear. In the programme, Parents of Estonia were represented by Nadežda Andrejeva, who answered phone calls and provided information regarding the organisation.

As an interested citizen, a Postimees reporter dialled the number and was told, among other things, how the no-bullying campaign serves to develop sexuality and feeling of satisfaction in children.

Sounds like a conspiracy theory? On basis of the recent resistance to gay bill, it is easy to threaten parents also about the horrors of the new Child Protection Act (as it was passed at end of last year and enters into force on January 1^st 2016). In reality, the new act seeks to build up Estonia’s faulty child protection system in order to enhance early detection of hurt children and helping children and parents alike.

Like organisations revealing traces of Russia’s soft ideology have also been created in Russia (Russkie Materi – Mothers of Russia) as well as in Latvia and in several nations in Europe. The same talk against Western child protection ideology is talked by Russia’s children’s ombudsman, the Pavel Astahhov of FSB background. Surely no coincidence.

Read about Pavel Astahhov

Pavel Astahhov (born in 1966) is a former KGB employee and member of FCB’s social committee in 2007–2010. As Russia’s children’s ombudsman, he has spoken against «anti-children terror» in Finland and Norway. Like some Latvian and Estonian organisations, Mr Astahhov has also spoken about how in Western countries sexuality is taught to children already. «I am against any sexual education to children. This is an activity that ought to be banned, first and foremost from the standpoint of fundamental right of children, as it is impermissible to practice such things as lead children down an amoral path,» Mr Astahhov has told a Russian news agency.

Regarding Norway, Finland and the USA, the activities of Mr Astahhov and the organisation Russkie Materi is directed towards contesting rights regarding children adopted into the West from Russia, as well as of fathers from the West having children with mothers of Russian nationality.

In Estonia the organisation has not found such conflicts among international families, but as a negative example they are spreading a story of a large family where the kids were taken to a replacement home. It’s an old story, dealt with by media and various Estonian child protection organisation which have had to admit that it is best for the children to dwell separately from parents.

Along with parents of Estonia, statements have also been made by another non-profit organisation Protecting Mothers and Children (Ühendus Emade ja Laste Kaitseks) established in 2011. According to its representative Maris Kuusik they have been invited for further cooperation but they have said no due to differing emphasis in otherwise similar programme.

Signatures sought to amend law

In the fall, both organisations sent protest notes to Riigikogu social committee and social ministry against Child Protection Act. «We, MTÜ Eesti Vanemad and MTÜ Ühendus Emade ja Laste Kaitseks, represent the opinion of many parents in Estonia and stand for their rights,» they wrote in introduction to their letter.

An emotional letter was also sent to the Riigikogu committee by Monica Benaissa related to Parents of Estonia. «Most people are not human anymore, the children are torn from our hands, to make it easier to box us like cattle... it is sad what is happening and will happen,» summarises Ms Benaissa.

Parents of Estonia have also attempted to take their ideas to Riigikogu through various political parties. They are planning collection of signatures to achieve amendments in Child Protection Act. The collection of signatures may commence at the demonstration.

Postimees addressed Parents of Estonia regarding the demonstration. Answers member Peeter Liiv: «Look what is happening in Finland and Norway. Did you read the facts from our website regarding what is happening? How, in these nations, tens of thousands of children have been taken from their parents? In Estonia, the new Child Protection Act will be used just the same, for arbitrary reasons children will be taken from their parents,» said Mr Liiv.

The demonstration is timed well: the very May 30^th marks the beginning of Old Town Days in Tallinn. The Norwegian Embassy is located at Harju St, right next to Freedom Square where concerts are happening at that time with lots of people around.