Isamaa lawyer: no ruling in criminal case to come before Riigikogu election
The lawyer for Estonia's opposition party Isamaa says a court will not rule on the prohibited donation case before the parliamentary election in March 2027. Prosecutors will decide on charges after the defense finishes reviewing the evidence.
Jaanus Tehver, the lawyer for Estonia's opposition party Isamaa, has said the criminal case against the party will not produce a court ruling before the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament) election in March 2027. In his view, the most that could happen in terms of timing is a preliminary hearing.
Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to bring charges. The Prosecutor's Office said the defense has until next Monday to examine the evidence materials, after which prosecutors will decide how to proceed. Tehver said he will submit no further requests to prosecutors and is awaiting formal charges, which he expects given the position the prosecution has stated since spring.
The suspicions
Last November, prosecutors notified Isamaa that it was suspected of accepting a prohibited donation of €110,234 between November 2020 and April 2024. According to the suspicions, prohibited donations, mainly advertising services, totaling roughly €330,000 were made to the party, of which it allegedly accepted that amount. Tehver has previously said the party is suspected of benefiting from coordinated activity by major donor Parvel Pruunsild, Tõnis Palts and the nonprofit MTÜ Isamaalised, who provided advertising and analysis services paid for by MTÜ Isamaalised. Under the Political Parties Act, companies and nonprofits may not finance party activities or provide free benefits with monetary value. Isamaa and all other suspects deny the allegations.
Comments from the party and prosecutors
Isamaa chairman Urmas Reinsalu said it was in the party's interest to get clarity quickly, but that the proceedings had not affected candidate recruitment or preparations for the campaign. He said such cases can also work the other way, rallying supporters who see the charges as unfounded. Charges would draw attention, he said, but would not distract from offering a political alternative to the Reform Party-led government.
Prosecutor's Office spokesperson Kauri Sinkevicius said that if charges are brought and the case goes to court, the court takes over responsibility for the proceedings and can take circumstances such as the upcoming elections into account when scheduling hearings.
