Estonia is a European country with which Latvia has a direct
border. The official language is Estonian. Ethnically 70% Estonian and
23% Russian. 64% do not believe in any religion, 35% are Christians. At
45,339 square kilometers, the country has a population of about
13,32,000.
Incitement of national, racial, religious or
political hatred, violence or discrimination is a prohibited and
punishable offense. Incitement to hatred, violence or inequality at the
social level is also prohibited and punishable. Infectious, intoxicated,
drug addicted, unnatural person could be arrested. Assemblies can be
banned to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. No one in
government is able to hold any position in a commercial organization.
These are positive aspects. Now let's discuss the negative aspects.
Parents have the right to make the final decision regarding their
child's education. If anyone from Estonia's unicameral legislature,
Rigikogu, takes over the government, his or her legislature power will
be suspended; and the legislature power will be reactivated as soon as
he or she leaves the government.
Admirable Articles of Estonia's Constitution
Article 12 (Part of it)
The incitement of national, racial, religious or political hatred, violence or discrimination shall, by law, be prohibited and punishable. The incitement of hatred, violence or discrimination between social strata shall, by law, also be prohibited and punishable.
Article 18 (Part of it)
No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel or degrading treatment or punishment.
No one shall be subjected to medical or scientific experiments against his or her free will.
Article 20
Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person.
No one shall be deprived of his or her liberty except in the cases and pursuant to procedure provided by law:
- 1. to execute a conviction or detention ordered by a court;
- 2. in the case of non-compliance with a direction of the court or to ensure the fulfillment of a duty provided by law;
- 3. to combat a criminal or administrative offence, to bring a person who is reasonably suspected of such an offence before a competent state authority, or to prevent his or her escape;
- 4. to place a minor under disciplinary supervision or to bring him or her before a competent state authority to determine whether to impose such supervision;
- 5. to detain a person suffering from an infectious disease, a person of unsound mind, an alcoholic or a drug addict, if such person is dangerous to himself or herself or to others;
- 6. to prevent illegal settlement in Estonia and to expel a person from Estonia or to extradite a person to a foreign state.
No one shall be deprived of his or her liberty merely on the ground of inability to fulfill a contractual obligation.
Article 25
Everyone has the right to compensation for moral and material damage caused by the unlawful action of any person.
Article 43
Everyone has the right to confidentiality of messages sent or received by him or her by post, telegraph, telephone or other commonly used means. Exceptions may be made by court authorization to combat a criminal offence, or to ascertain the truth in a criminal procedure, in the cases and pursuant to procedure provided by law.
Article 47
Everyone has the right, without prior permission, to assemble peacefully and to conduct meetings. This right may be restricted in the cases and pursuant to procedure provided by law to ensure national security, public order, morals, traffic safety, and the safety of participants in a meeting, or to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
Article 54
An Estonian citizen has a duty to be loyal to the constitutional order and to defend the independence of Estonia.
If no other means are available, every Estonian citizen has the right to initiate resistance against a forcible change of the constitutional order.
Article 99
Members of the Government of the Republic shall not hold any other state office, nor belong to the management board or supervisory board of a commercial enterprise.
Article 111
The Bank of Estonia has the sole right to issue Estonian currency. The Bank of Estonia shall regulate currency circulation and shall uphold the stability of the national currency.
Facts of Estonia's Constitution
Article 37 (Part of it)
Parents shall have the final decision in the choice of education for their children.
Article 45
Everyone has the right to freely disseminate ideas, opinions, beliefs and other information by word, print, picture or other means. This right may be restricted by law to protect public order, morals, and the rights and freedoms, health, honor and good name of others. This right may also be restricted by law for state and local government public servants, to protect a state or business secret or information received in confidence, which has become known to them by reason of their office, and the family and private life of others, as well as in the interests of justice.
There is no censorship.
Article 47
Everyone has the right, without prior permission, to assemble peacefully and to conduct meetings. This right may be restricted in the cases and pursuant to procedure provided by law to ensure national security, public order, morals, traffic safety, and the safety of participants in a meeting, or to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.
Article 64 (Part of it)
The authority of a member of the Riigikogu shall be suspended upon
his or her appointment as a member of the Government of the Republic,
and shall be restored upon release from his or her duties as a member of
the Government.
