The Riigikogu establishes a committee of inquiry into Russian influence activities

TALLINN – During its Tuesday session, the Riigikogu (the Estonian parliament) decided to establish a committee of inquiry composed of representatives from all parliamentary factions. The committee's purpose is to systematically analyze the influence activities of the Russian Federation, its funding methods, its connections to the Estonian public sector, propaganda projects, and the associated risks.

The resolution, titled "Formation of a Riigikogu Committee of Inquiry to Investigate the Influence Activities of the Russian Federation, its Funding Methods, and Associated Risks" (770 OE), was proposed by Members of Parliament Eerik-Niiles Kross, Toomas Uibo, Riina Sikkut, Ants Frosch, and Peeter Tali. It passed with the support of 73 MPs.

According to the explanatory memorandum, Russian influence activity in Estonia is part of a broader strategy that seeks to weaken the security and resilience of the Estonian state, targets Estonia's Russian-speaking population and social cohesion, and disseminates narratives harmful to Estonia and its allies. "The committee is necessary to assess funding chains, identify the potential role of public sector subsidies, analyze the participation of NGOs, individuals, and networks, evaluate the damage to internal security and social cohesion, and make proposals for mitigating risks," the proposers noted.

According to the resolution, the committee will focus on four main topics: the funding of Russian influence activities in Estonia, the potential role of the Estonian public sector, the impact of propaganda on the Estonian population, and the framework of hybrid warfare. Among other tasks, the committee must determine the extent to which projects, associations, and activities promoting the interests of the Russian Federation have received direct or indirect funding from Estonian state agencies, local governments, their subordinate agencies, or companies under their control.

The committee must also clarify the extent to which organizations, associations, and individuals in Estonia have participated in or been associated with Russia's influence and divisive activities. An amendment made during the proceedings expanded this mandate to also include companies operating in Estonia.

The committee's task is to provide the Riigikogu with a comprehensive overview of the extent of these influence operations and to propose legislative, organizational, and security countermeasures. Working with independent experts, the committee will develop recommendations to prevent and mitigate risks from influence and divisive activities, enhance the ability of authorities to identify threats, and suggest necessary legal, organizational, or funding-related changes.

The committee will be formed based on the principle of parity used for other special parliamentary committees, meaning the ruling coalition and the opposition will have equal representation. The committee is required to submit its final report to the Riigikogu and the public no later than February 1, 2027.