The idea has been shrugged off as absurd by some residents and unthinkable by some legislators. Top officials won't comment about it yet as no formal proposal has been made.
Despite rolling eyes and tight-lipped press secretaries, local media have broached the subject and emotional debates have ensued.
According to government spokesman Kaarel Tarand, Prime Minister Mart Laar will comment about the red-light idea in an interview to be published in Postimees on June 2. At TBT's press time, the interview had not yet taken place and Tarand would not comment further.
Earlier, Laar's spokesman Priit Poiklik told BNS that the idea was unthinkable in the legislative sense and the legalizing of prostitution has never been discussed in government and it's difficult to imagine the present government discussing it now.
"The government's interest is to prevent things that are socially undesirable," Poiklik said.
Virkus said to BNS the goal of his plan to centralize all brothels operating illegally in different parts of the city is to win better control over prostitution - unregulated in Estonia - and to provide Tallinn with another tourist attraction.
It is the latter objective that seems to have angered many residents.
"What kind of fame is it for Estonia if people are coming here for that?" asked Ave Zopp, a student.
Zopp's concerns are echoed by other residents who worry about a negative image of Estonia abroad, currently a candidate for membership into the European Union.
"It is a very stupid idea if it is only to make an area that is attractive for tourists," said Kai Haldre, director of Estonia's Family Planning Association, a division of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. But, she added that the idea is still so unclear that she can't comment on whether or not the plan to oversee more directly prostitution is a good one.
"Localizing the brothels and prostitution is not going to change anything," Haldre said. "It will not help the women involved. It is very primitive to think in that way."
Haldre, who has visited centers in Amsterdam that counsel women on the street and educate them about sexually transmitted diseases, drugs and alternative employment opportunities, says unless intervention in the prostitution rings of Tallinn is in the form of counseling and teaching, government regulation isn't a solution.
"To address prostitution you must think humanly. Helping them is better than just allowing them have a place to work," Haldre said.
Virkus, who hadn't returned a call from TBT by press time, one month ago expressed to BNS that the formation of a red-light district in Tallinn will above all depend on the attitude of the interested parties and it would be a long-term process.
The city government has said they will open a debate on the topic.
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