TALLINN - Russian millionaire Andrei Filatov might have hoped his investments in Estonian transport companies and his connection with Center Party leader Edgar Savisaar (above) were enough to secure him honorary citizenship.
But in the end, controversy surrounding his financial backing of a biased documentary was enough to see his request for a special Cabinet-issued passport rejected.
Filatov's name was one of thirteen considered by the Cabinet in late December for special citizenship.
Under Estonian law, the Cabinet may issue up to 10 honorary citizenships to people who have made outstanding contributions to the nation.
Filatov, director of the transport company Severstaltrans, was nominated by Savisaar, the Economic Minister, who said Filatov had contributed to the nation through his business interests.
Shortly before the Cabinet was due to decide on the matter, it was revealed that Filatov was the backer of a controversial historical documentary, "Estonia 's Crossroads of History," which was branded "anti-Estonian" by those who viewed it.
Even Prime Minister Andrus Ansip 's a coalition partner but political rival of Savisaar's 's said it would be inappropriate to give citizenship to anyone not loyal to the Estonian sate.
"If he wishes to continue to be a candidate for Estonian citizenship, he has to clearly distance himself from the film that seeks to rewrite history," Ansip said before the Cabinet meeting.
Savisaar argued that to punish Filatov would be targeting the wrong person, as he had merely donated money to an organization that sponsored the film, and was not responsible for its content.
He said Filatov had made a large contribution to the transport industry, and his nomination was supported by several other Estonian businesses.
"Andrei Filatov has definitely served Estonia well in a field that belongs to my area of responsibility, and I had no reason not to submit the application to the Cabinet," Savisaar said.
In the end, Ansip's camp gained the numbers in the Cabinet to block Savisaar's nomination.
Also rejected for citizenship was Alla Dudajeva, the widow of assassinated Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayev.
Instead, the Cabinet chose to honor artists ahead of businessmen.
Tatjana Jarvi, a dancer, Vladimir Stepanjan, a judo trainer, and Aleksei Aleksejev, a filmmaker, were included on the list of approved names.
Businessman and property developer Sergei Sergei Sergejenkov was also given citizenship, along with Anatoli Gruba, the managing director of shipbuilding company BLRT Group.
Rival politicians and protestors argued that the system should be changed so that businessmen could not simply buy citizenship by making large investments.
