| Revision as of 09:39, 6 June 2009 editNanobear~enwiki (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled12,272 edits misrepresenting? fine, then let's use an exact quote← Previous edit | Revision as of 09:47, 6 June 2009 edit undoVolunteer Marek (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers94,084 edits "in short" is grammatically incorrect, "secret police" is not appropriate, long quotes belong in WikiquoteNext edit → | ||
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| The '''Kaitsepolitsei''' ('''Security Police''', |
The '''Kaitsepolitsei''' ('''Security Police''', '''KAPO''' for short) is the central security institution of ]. Its purposes are centered around enforcing constitutional order. Kaitsepolitsei has primary investigative jurisdiction in some offences committed by state officials; countering ]; ]; ] and peace, including ]; the illegal handling and trafficking of explosives, radio active material, firearms, ammunition or other strategic materials; and the protection of ]. It also fills ] duties. | ||
| Kaitsepolitsei is administered as an agency of the ]. | Kaitsepolitsei is administered as an agency of the ]. | ||
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| ===Re-establishment=== | ===Re-establishment=== | ||
| The institution was re-established as Kaitsepolitseiamet in ], ], during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the process of Estonia regaining its independence, as a department of the Estonian Police (''Politseiamet''). It began operating as a separate institution in ], ]. According to the law of security services, which took effect on ], ], the status of the Kaitsepolitseiamet changed from a police institution to a security service. | The institution was re-established as Kaitsepolitseiamet in ], ], during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the process of Estonia regaining its independence, as a department of the Estonian Police (''Politseiamet''). It began operating as a separate institution in ], ]. According to the law of security services, which took effect on ], ], the status of the Kaitsepolitseiamet changed from a police institution to a security service. | ||
| ==Criticism== | |||
| 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= ] |date=2009 |accessdate=2009-06-05}}</ref> | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
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| ] | ] | ||
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Revision as of 09:47, 6 June 2009
| Kaitsepolitsei | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1920 as the Political Police |
| Jurisdiction | Government of Estonia |
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executive |
|
| Parent agency | Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs |
| Website | www.kapo.ee |
The Kaitsepolitsei (Security Police, KAPO for short) is the central security institution of Republic of Estonia. Its purposes are centered around enforcing constitutional order. Kaitsepolitsei has primary investigative jurisdiction in some offences committed by state officials; countering terrorism; incitement to hatred; crimes against humanity and peace, including war crimes; the illegal handling and trafficking of explosives, radio active material, firearms, ammunition or other strategic materials; and the protection of state secrets. It also fills counterintelligence duties.
Kaitsepolitsei is administered as an agency of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
While a lot of Kaitsepolitsei's activities are classified, its overview of the status of national security is published yearly as the Kaitsepolitsei aastaraamat.
History
Kaitsepolitseiamet was established on April 12, 1920 by the Government Of Estonia. From 1925 to 1940 the institution was known as Poliitiline politsei (abbreviated PolPol). The PolPol fought against subversive activities of left-wing and right-wing extremists, espionage, desertion, smuggling and terrorism. The most important targets were the Estonian communists whose party was illegal, forcing them to operate clandestinely and through various legal (pro-communist) workers' organisations. Hundreds of people were sued at courts and tribunals as a result of the PolPol investigation of communist activities. Similarly, the PolPol surveyed pro-Nazi oriented Baltic Germans and extreme monarchists of the White Russian emigres. When the Soviet Union annexed Estonia in June 17, 1940 the PolPol was one of the first institutions which was practically in corpore repressed. During the Soviet rule from 1940-1941 and 1944-1991, the PolPol was replaced by local organs of its counterparts in the Soviet Union: KGB, NKVD, MVD etc.
Re-establishment
The institution was re-established as Kaitsepolitseiamet in March 1, 1991, during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the process of Estonia regaining its independence, as a department of the Estonian Police (Politseiamet). It began operating as a separate institution in June 18, 1993. According to the law of security services, which took effect on March 1, 2001, the status of the Kaitsepolitseiamet changed from a police institution to a security service.
References
External links
59°25′52″N 24°44′15″E / 59.431°N 24.7375°E / 59.431; 24.7375
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| Intelligence community | |
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| Defunct agencies | |
| Related topics | |