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Kaitsepolitseiamet (commonly abbreviated KAPO or Kaitsepolitsei), translated as Security Police board in English, is the government institution that protects the Estonian constitutional regime and performs counterintelligence in Estonia. Its tasks also include the prevention and discovery of crimes against the parliamentary democracy in Estonia. Kaitsepolitseiamet is in the administrative field of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

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). 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.

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.

Criticism

According to Risto Teinonen, a Finnish lawyer working in Tallinn, KAPO appears to be a criminal civil service, which is completely beyond any control. Many KAPO employees are former KGB agents. Teinonen accuses KAPO of bearing down on ordinary people without any criminal records, simply because of their political views. The victims are branded as troublemakers so that they will lose their work or study. Sometimes even their lives are threatened. The victims are then sent to psychiatric hospitals just because of the political views, just like at the time of USSR. On 27 June, 2007, Teinonen himself was arrested by KAPO, and his and his friends' homes were searched. Teinonen claims that he was deliberately and unjustifiably suspected of intent to establish an organisation opposed to the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Estonia and a paramilitary group for such an organisation. However, no evidence of any criminal activities was found. Teinonen further asserts, that the only reason for these proceedings is his world-view and that KAPO's objective is to force him out of the country. The criminal proceedings launched by KAPO are unjustified and they have been initiated for political reasons – the request can be traced to the Estonian government, Teinonen claims. In its annual report KAPO has called Teinonen "an agent of influence." In 13 January, 2009, Teinonen filed a lawsuit with the Tallinn administrative court against KAPO.

References

1. ^ Kaitsepolitsei - Repressiivorgan
2. ^ Finnish Neo-Nazi Sues Estonian Security Police
3. ESTONIA ABANDONS THE RULE OF LAW
4. Estonian Security Police Investigating Neo-Nazi Group

External links

• The web page of the Kaitsepolitseiamet
• Julgeolekuasutuste Seadus, Riigi Teataja I 2001, 7, 17

59°25′52″N 24°44′15″E / 59.431°N 24.7375°E / 59.431; 24.7375

• Intelligence agencies
• Politics of Estonia
• Law enforcement agencies of Estonia