Estonian PM: No room for doubt when speaking about domestic violence

TALLINN - Handing the resignation of Marti Kuusik from the position of minister of foreign trade and IT in the new Estonian government to the president on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Juri Ratas said that when family violence is concerned there is no room for justifications or doubt.

Ratas said that family violence is an extremely serious and painful problem in the whole society, spokespeople for the government said.

"In this, we have no room for justifications or doubt, because we know that there are thousands of victims of close relationship violence in Estonia. I unequivocally condemn whatever sort of family and close relationship violence. The police always takes all such cases very seriously, regardless of the person's position. The most important thing is for the victims to receive help and be protected," Ratas said.

Ratas said that investigative bodies in Estonia have started criminal proceedings to check on the suspicions related to Marti Kuusik.

"In the situation that has emerged, it would not be possible for the government to start working substantively and fulfill its program. Therefore Minister of Foreign Trade and Information Technology Marti Kuusik today tendered his resignation. I forwarded it to the President of the Republic," the prime minister said.

Ratas told reporters on Tuesday evening that he met on the subject at his office with national police chief Elmar Vaher, Prosecutor General Lavly Perling, Minister of Justice Raivo Aeg and Interior Minister Mart Helme, Postimees said.

"The heads of the prosecutor's office and the police offered an overview of what has happened. I am convinced that the police and the prosecutor's office are doing their work well and I have definitely no right to comment on their work at the present stage of the proceedings," the head of government said.

President Kersti Kaljulaid on Tuesday released Marti Kuusik from the office of minister of foreign trade and IT.

Kuusik tendered his resignation to the prime minister earlier on Tuesday evening. The minister said he was resigning for the sake of the government's peaceful work atmosphere, cleaning his reputation and protecting his family.

The prosecutor's office on Monday evening opened criminal proceedings concerning reports of domestic violence allegedly committed by Kuusik against his ex-wife.