Jump to content

Estonian Internal Security Service: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 59°25′52.1″N 24°44′16.56″E / 59.431139°N 24.7379333°E / 59.431139; 24.7379333
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→History: translated the name
(26 intermediate revisions by 21 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Infobox Government agency
{{Short description|Government agency of Estonia}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox government agency
|agency_name = Internal Security Service
|agency_name = Internal Security Service
|nativename = Kaitsepolitsei
|nativename = Kaitsepolitsei
|nativename_a =
|nativename_a =
|nativename_r =
|nativename_r =
|logo = Estonian Security Police logo.png
|logo = Estonian Security Police logo.svg
|logo_width =
|logo_width =
|logo_caption =
|logo_caption =
Line 24: Line 26:
|minister2_name =
|minister2_name =
|minister2_pfo =
|minister2_pfo =
|chief1_name = Arnold Sinisalu
|chief1_name = [[Arnold Sinisalu]]
|chief1_position = Head Director
|chief1_position = Head Director
|chief2_name =
|chief2_name =
Line 31: Line 33:
|child1_agency =
|child1_agency =
|child2_agency =
|child2_agency =
|website = [http://www.kapo.ee/eng_index.html www.kapo.ee]
|website = [https://kapo.ee/en/ www.kapo.ee]
|footnotes =
|footnotes =
}}
}}
The '''Estonian Internal Security Service''' ({{lang-et|Kaitsepolitsei}}, officially {{lang-et|Kaitsepolitseiamet}}, '''KaPo''' for short) is a central [[national security]] institution of [[Estonia|Republic of Estonia]]. Its purposes are centered on enforcing constitutional order. The Estonian Internal Security Service has primary investigative jurisdiction in some offences committed by state officials; countering [[terrorism]]; [[incitement to hatred]]; [[crimes against humanity]] and peace, including [[war crimes]]; illegal handling and trafficking of firearms, ammunition, explosives, radioactive material or other [[strategic material]]s; and the protection of [[state secrets]]. It also fills [[counterintelligence]] duties.
The '''Estonian Internal Security Service''' ({{lang-et|Kaitsepolitsei}}, officially {{lang-et|Kaitsepolitseiamet}}, '''KAPO''' for short) is a central [[national security]] institution of [[Estonia|Republic of Estonia]]. Its purposes are centered on enforcing constitutional order. The Estonian Internal Security Service has primary investigative jurisdiction in some offences committed by state officials; countering [[terrorism]]; [[incitement to hatred]]; [[crimes against humanity]] and peace, including [[war crimes]]; illegal handling and trafficking of firearms, ammunition, explosives, radioactive material or other [[strategic material]]s; and the protection of [[state secrets]]. It also fills [[counterintelligence]] duties.


The Estonian Internal Security Service is administered as an agency of the [[Council of Ministers of Estonia#Ministry of Internal Affairs|Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs]].
The Estonian Internal Security Service is administered as an agency of the [[Council of Ministers of Estonia#Ministry of Internal Affairs|Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs]]. While many of the Estonian Internal Security Service's activities are classified, its overview of the status of national security is published yearly as the ''Kaitsepolitsei aastaraamat''.

While a lot of Estonian Internal Security Service's activities are classified, its overview of the status of national security is published yearly as the ''Kaitsepolitsei aastaraamat''.


==History==
==History==
Kaitsepolitseiamet was first established on April 12, 1920. From 1925 to 1940 the institution was known as Political Police (''Poliitiline politsei'', abbreviated ''PolPol''). The PolPol fought against subversive activities of political extremists, espionage, desertion, smuggling and terrorism. The most discussed targets were the Estonian communists whose party had been declared an illegal organisation following the failed [[1924 Estonian coup d'état attempt|December coup]], forcing them to operate clandestinely and through various legal fronts, usually as workers' organisations. Communists were supported by the Soviet Union, who had publicly accepted the principles not recognizing the parliamentary order, seeing terrorism as a legitimate activity.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Walter|first=Hannes|date=February 1999|title=Uprising of December 1, 192411|journal=Baltic Defence Review|pages=129–140|url=http://www.bdcol.ee/fileadmin/docs/bdreview/10bdr299.pdf}}</ref> Similarly, the PolPol surveyed pro-Nazi oriented Baltic Germans and extreme monarchists of the White Russian emigres.<ref name ="kapo">http://www.kapo.ee/eng/general-information/history/1920-1940</ref>
Kaitsepolitseiamet was first established on April 12, 1920. From 1925 to 1940 the institution was known as Political Police (''Poliitiline politsei'', abbreviated ''PolPol''). The PolPol fought against subversive activities of political extremists, espionage, desertion, smuggling and terrorism. The most discussed targets were the [[Communist Party of Estonia|Estonian communists]] whose party had been declared an illegal organisation following the failed [[1924 Estonian coup d'état attempt|December coup]], forcing them to operate clandestinely and through various legal fronts, usually as workers' organisations. Communists were supported by the [[Soviet Union]], who had publicly accepted the principles not recognizing the parliamentary order, seeing terrorism as a legitimate activity.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Walter|first=Hannes|date=February 1999|title=Uprising of December 1, 192411|journal=Baltic Defence Review|pages=129–140|url=http://www.bdcol.ee/fileadmin/docs/bdreview/10bdr299.pdf|access-date=June 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614030707/http://www.bdcol.ee/fileadmin/docs/bdreview/10bdr299.pdf|archive-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Similarly, the PolPol surveyed pro-Nazi oriented Baltic Germans and extreme monarchists of the White Russian emigres.<ref name ="kapo">{{Cite web |url=http://www.kapo.ee/eng/general-information/history/1920-1940 |title=Kaitsepolitseiamet - Estonian Security Police in 1920-1940 |access-date=2010-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720125559/http://www.kapo.ee/eng/general-information/history/1920-1940 |archive-date=2011-07-20 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


When the [[Soviet Union]] annexed Estonia on June 17, 1940 the PolPol was one of the first institutions which was practically ''in corpore'' repressed - almost all of its employees were deported in course of [[June deportation]]s; before the end of the World War II more than 90% of the PolPol employees and their families were killed.<ref name ="kapo"/>
When the Soviet Union annexed Estonia on June 17, 1940 the PolPol was one of the first institutions which was practically ''in corpore'' repressed - almost all of its employees were deported in the course of the [[June deportation]]s; by the end of the [[World War II]] more than 90% of the PolPol employees and their families had been killed.<ref name ="kapo"/>


===Re-establishment===
===Re-establishment===
The Estonian Internal Security Service was reestablished on March 1, 1991, as a part of restoration of Estonian independence from the Soviet occupation. Until June 18, 1993, the Estonian Internal Security Service was a department of the central police structure; then, it was reorganised as a distinct entity. Following adoption of a new law of security services on March 1, 2001, the status of the Estonian Internal Security Service was reclassified from a police institution to a security service.
The Estonian Internal Security Service was reestablished on March 1, 1991, as a part of restoration of Estonian independence from the Soviet occupation. Until June 18, 1993, the Estonian Internal Security Service was a department of the central police structure; then, it was reorganised as a distinct entity. Following adoption of a new law of security services on March 1, 2001, the status of the Estonian Internal Security Service was reclassified from a police institution to a security service.


According to an Amnesty International report from 2009: "In June, the Estonian Security Police Board published its annual report which made serious allegations against the [[Legal Information Centre for Human Rights]] (LICHR), an NGO promoting and defending the rights of those belonging to linguistic minorities. The report stated that the LICHR was used by the Russian Federation to carry out scientific research for propaganda purposes, and accused the LICHR of trying to conceal the specific sources of funding it received from the Russian Federation. These allegations were widely seen as an attempt by the government to misrepresent the LICHR and to undermine its attempts to secure the necessary financial and social support to carry out its work."<ref name="amnesty2009">{{cite web |url=http://thereport.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/estonia |title=Amnesty International Report 2009 |publisher= [[Amnesty International]] |year=2009 |accessdate=2009-06-05}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
According to an Amnesty International report from 2009: "In June, the Estonian Security Police Board published its annual report which made serious allegations against the [[Legal Information Centre for Human Rights]] (LICHR), an NGO promoting and defending the rights of those belonging to linguistic minorities. The report stated that the LICHR was used by the Russian Federation to carry out scientific research for propaganda purposes, and accused the LICHR of trying to conceal the specific sources of funding it received from the Russian Federation. These allegations were widely seen as an attempt by the government to misrepresent the LICHR and to undermine its attempts to secure the necessary financial and social support to carry out its work."<ref name="amnesty2009">{{cite web|url=http://thereport.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/estonia |title=Amnesty International Report 2009 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |year=2009 |access-date=2009-06-05 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602034710/http://thereport.amnesty.org/en/regions/europe-central-asia/estonia |archive-date=June 2, 2009 }}</ref>


Criticism against the Estonian Internal Security Service has been presented by [[Risto Teinonen]], a [[Finland|Finnish]] lawyer and neo-Nazi living in Tallinn. In 2009, Teinonen launched criminal proceedings against the Estonian Internal Security Service in a Tallinn court, accusing the organization of politically motivated persecution of innocent people.<ref name="bäckman">{{cite book|last=Bäckman|first=Johan|title=Pronssisoturi|publisher=Tarbeinfo|location=Tallinn|year=2008|chapter=Naamiaiset}}</ref><ref name="istock">https://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2951113</ref><ref name="baltictimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/22522/|title=Simm stripped of honors|date=13 March 2009|publisher=[[Baltic Times]]|accessdate=2009-04-02}}</ref>
Criticism of the Estonian Internal Security Service has been presented by [[Risto Teinonen]], a [[Finland|Finnish]] lawyer and neo-Nazi living in Tallinn. In 2009, Teinonen launched criminal proceedings against the Estonian Internal Security Service in a Tallinn court, accusing the organization of the politically motivated persecution of innocent people.<ref name="bäckman">{{cite book|last=Bäckman|first=Johan|title=Pronssisoturi|publisher=Tarbeinfo|location=Tallinn|year=2008|chapter=Naamiaiset}}</ref><ref name="istock">{{Cite web |url=https://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2951113 |title=Finnish Neo-Nazi Sues Estonian Security Police |access-date=2009-06-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503103500/http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2951113 |archive-date=2012-05-03 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="baltictimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/22522/|title=Simm stripped of honors|date=13 March 2009|publisher=[[The Baltic Times]]|access-date=2009-04-02}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 56: Line 56:


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


== External links ==
== External links ==
*{{Official|http://www.kapo.ee/eng }}
*{{Official website|http://www.kapo.ee/eng/home/}}
*[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=910997 Julgeolekuasutuste Seadus, Riigi Teataja I 2001, 7, 17]
*[https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=910997 Julgeolekuasutuste Seadus, Riigi Teataja I 2001, 7, 17]


{{Domestic national intelligence agencies}}
{{Domestic national intelligence agencies}}


[[Category:Counter-intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Counterintelligence agencies]]
⚫
[[Category:Intelligence agencies]]
[[Category:Law enforcement agencies of Estonia]]
[[Category:Law enforcement agencies of Estonia]]
⚫
[[Category:Estonian intelligence agencies]]

Revision as of 11:14, 29 March 2024

Internal Security Service
Kaitsepolitsei
Agency overview
Formed1920 as the Political Police
JurisdictionGovernment of Estonia
HeadquartersToompuiestee 3, Tallinn
59°25′52.1″N 24°44′16.56″E / 59.431139°N 24.7379333°E / 59.431139; 24.7379333
Agency executive
Parent agencyEstonian Ministry of Internal Affairs
Websitewww.kapo.ee

The Estonian Internal Security Service (Estonian: Kaitsepolitsei, officially Estonian: Kaitsepolitseiamet, KAPO for short) is a central national security institution of Republic of Estonia. Its purposes are centered on enforcing constitutional order. The Estonian Internal Security Service has primary investigative jurisdiction in some offences committed by state officials; countering terrorism; incitement to hatred; crimes against humanity and peace, including war crimes; illegal handling and trafficking of firearms, ammunition, explosives, radioactive material or other strategic materials; and the protection of state secrets. It also fills counterintelligence duties.

The Estonian Internal Security Service is administered as an agency of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs. While many of the Estonian Internal Security Service's activities are classified, its overview of the status of national security is published yearly as the Kaitsepolitsei aastaraamat.

History

Kaitsepolitseiamet was first established on April 12, 1920. From 1925 to 1940 the institution was known as Political Police (Poliitiline politsei, abbreviated PolPol). The PolPol fought against subversive activities of political extremists, espionage, desertion, smuggling and terrorism. The most discussed targets were the Estonian communists whose party had been declared an illegal organisation following the failed December coup, forcing them to operate clandestinely and through various legal fronts, usually as workers' organisations. Communists were supported by the Soviet Union, who had publicly accepted the principles not recognizing the parliamentary order, seeing terrorism as a legitimate activity.[1] Similarly, the PolPol surveyed pro-Nazi oriented Baltic Germans and extreme monarchists of the White Russian emigres.[2]

When the Soviet Union annexed Estonia on June 17, 1940 the PolPol was one of the first institutions which was practically in corpore repressed - almost all of its employees were deported in the course of the June deportations; by the end of the World War II more than 90% of the PolPol employees and their families had been killed.[2]

Re-establishment

The Estonian Internal Security Service was reestablished on March 1, 1991, as a part of restoration of Estonian independence from the Soviet occupation. Until June 18, 1993, the Estonian Internal Security Service was a department of the central police structure; then, it was reorganised as a distinct entity. Following adoption of a new law of security services on March 1, 2001, the status of the Estonian Internal Security Service was reclassified from a police institution to a security service.

According to an Amnesty International report from 2009: "In June, the Estonian Security Police Board published its annual report which made serious allegations against the Legal Information Centre for Human Rights (LICHR), an NGO promoting and defending the rights of those belonging to linguistic minorities. The report stated that the LICHR was used by the Russian Federation to carry out scientific research for propaganda purposes, and accused the LICHR of trying to conceal the specific sources of funding it received from the Russian Federation. These allegations were widely seen as an attempt by the government to misrepresent the LICHR and to undermine its attempts to secure the necessary financial and social support to carry out its work."[3]

Criticism of the Estonian Internal Security Service has been presented by Risto Teinonen, a Finnish lawyer and neo-Nazi living in Tallinn. In 2009, Teinonen launched criminal proceedings against the Estonian Internal Security Service in a Tallinn court, accusing the organization of the politically motivated persecution of innocent people.[4][5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Walter, Hannes (February 1999). "Uprising of December 1, 192411" (PDF). Baltic Defence Review: 129–140. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Kaitsepolitseiamet - Estonian Security Police in 1920-1940". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 5 April 2010.
  3. ^ "Amnesty International Report 2009". Amnesty International. 2009. Archived from the original on 2 June 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2009.
  4. ^ Bäckman, Johan (2008). "Naamiaiset". Pronssisoturi. Tallinn: Tarbeinfo.
  5. ^ "Finnish Neo-Nazi Sues Estonian Security Police". Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  6. ^ "Simm stripped of honors". The Baltic Times. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Estonian_Internal_Security_Service&oldid=1216150312"