Karis proclaims law on compensation for Russia's war damages

TALLINN - President Alar Karis on Tuesday promulgated two laws, one concerning the establishment of an international commission for Ukraine's claims for damages, and another allowing in-house transactions in procurements for the recovery and disposal of waste collected by local governments.

With the Act to Ratify the Convention on the Establishment of the International Commission for Ukrainian Claims for Damages, Estonia accedes to the convention establishing the international commission. The commission operates on the principle that, under international law, Russia must compensate for the damages caused to Ukraine as a result of its aggression.

The process is based on a 2022 UN General Assembly resolution which affirms Russia's obligation to compensate for damages caused by its violations of international law. The creation of the commission is part of a three-part international compensation mechanism: a register of damages, a claims commission, and a compensation fund.

Estonia has been one of the driving forces behind the mechanism and has actively participated in drafting the convention. Estonia signed the convention in The Hague last December, along with 33 other countries and the European Union. The convention will enter into force once it is ratified or approved by 25 signatories whose financial contributions collectively cover at least 50 percent of the register's 2025 budget.

The Act to Amend the Waste Act provides the private sector with greater investment security in waste management and improves competition and service quality. The law amends the provision allowing in-house transactions for contracting the recovery and disposal of waste collected under local government arrangements. The obligation for municipalities to conduct public procurements will take effect on January 1, 2031, to allow sufficient time to adapt to the new requirement.