An elite group of rich
Estonians who make up only 0.3
percent of the population earn
seven percent of the nation's
total income. Tax data shows
1,745 people declared an income of
over one million kroons (64,000
euros) in 2006. Only two people
declared an income of over 50 million
kroons. Meanwhile, 14 percent
of all taxpayers earned just 24,000
kroons a year, according to data
released by Statistics Estonia.
Estonia's visa-free agreements
have had an unexpected side effect
's an increase in drug trafficking.
A record 18 Estonians have been
arrested as cocaine couriers in
other nations so far this year. The
Central Criminal Police told BNS it
was a direct result of the visa-free
travel agreements that Estonia
now enjoys with other nations.
Previously, about 6 or 7 such cases
were reported annually. This year,
seven alleged drug couriers have
been caught in European airports,
while 11 were detained in South
America.
An Estonian man has been
caught manufacturing counterfeit
copies of clothing items from
the Tallinn fashion label
Monton in New York. On Aug. 16
the Eesti Ekspress newspaper interviewed
Andres Sults, who admitted
to employing 15 illegal
Mexican workers in Manhattan to
replicate designs from the Monton
collection and selling them in boutiques
for hundreds of dollars.
Baltika, owner of the Monton
label, said it was unconcerned
about the counterfeits, and said
they were glad their label had
attracted attention outside of
Eastern Europe.
Recriminations from the
Bronze Soldier riots continue to
flow. On Aug. 21 the Harju County
Court sentenced 18-year old Dmitri
Holostov to four months in
prison for looting a kiosk during
the riots. The court found
Holostov guilty of breaking into
the R-Kiosk on Nunne Street at
about 3 a.m. on April 27. Police
who stopped and searched
Holostov found cigarettes, chewing
gum and confectionery in his bag.
He was ordered to pay 5,000 kroons
(319 euros) in compensation and
2,531 in court costs.
