Estonia's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur Resigns

Estonia's Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur resigned from his post on September 4. This step was taken following a controversial deal to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine.

Controversy and Allegations Regarding the Deal

Estonia made advance payments of about 70 million euros (approximately 781 crore rupees) to companies that previously had no record of manufacturing or selling artillery shells, to purchase large-caliber artillery shells for Ukraine. Interests linked to an Indian company are also being reported in this deal.

Estonia has attempted to cancel the contract and recover the advance payment. The matter is under consideration in domestic courts and the European Arbitration Court in Strasbourg.

The company claims it delivered a large quantity of material and suffered losses due to the sudden termination of the contract. The dispute is ongoing at the court and arbitration levels.

Minister's Resignation and Political Responsibility

Announcing his resignation, Hanno Pevkur said ministers do not count weapons and ammunition, nor do they personally negotiate contracts. He clarified that the defence minister's job is not to read every line of contracts or count ammunition, yet political accountability in this matter falls on him.

His resignation comes with the belief that Estonia has made the right decisions to strengthen its national defence.

A report by the National Audit Office criticized the country's defence expenditure, military investments, and procurement process, raising questions of political responsibility. The opposition and media questioned how such a large advance was approved for a company without experience and where the oversight mechanism failed.

Even if I did not have a direct role in the details of the deal, I must accept political responsibility for the defence sector

Hanno Pevkur, Estonia's Defence Minister

Brussels is in contact with Estonian officials

Christian Wigand, Spokesperson