Kaja Kallas said she decided to make the matter public because she knows of other female public servants who have received such messages. “I have heard that a lot of [female] officials receive this kind of hate mail and threats simply because they’re doing their job. It is not normal, and we mustn’t stand for it. I encourage everyone to turn to the police as something like this cannot become a part of everyday life, a salary component so to speak, whatever your profession or whenever you’re voicing your convictions,” Kallas said.
Criticism from the prime minister
Prime Minister Jüri Ratas took Kallas’ side and released a statement in her support, saying there is no place in Estonia for such jarring threats.
“The Estonian society has no place for such appalling threats that seriously impact feelings of security. I commend operatives of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) for their rapid response and determining there was no real danger for Kaja Kallas. I’m convinced the PPA takes every threat against a person’s life seriously to ensure everyone’s safety and determine the motives and find the perpetrators of such actions,” Ratas wrote on social media.
Postimees wrote about an EKRE troll farm in January that sees dozens of fake accounts manufacture social media comments two of which even managed to be published by Eesti Päevaleht. Ruuben Kaalep, member of the party’s youth wing Blue Awakening, admitted that he knowingly engages in social media trolling using false identities. EKRE chairman Mart Helme has said he does not perceive a problem with the practice.