A €70 million advance and contracts the minister says he did not review have intensified scrutiny of Estonia’s defence procurement system.
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced his resignation following a scandal involving the purchase of artillery shells for Ukraine.
This is reported by the media outlet ERR.
Under the agreement, Estonia paid Indian companies an advance of €70 million. These companies had not previously been involved in selling artillery ammunition.
Magnus-Valdemar Saar, the former head of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment, said that the key decisions regarding the purchase had been coordinated with the leadership of the Ministry of Defence.
At the same time, Hanno Pevkur admitted that he had not reviewed the relevant contracts, although the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment had provided the documents to the minister.
The defense minister does not negotiate contracts or count socks and ammunition. The defense minister makes the fundamental decision to support Ukraine.
– Hanno Pevkur
Political Pressure on Estonia’s Defense Minister
Pevkur explained that preparing contracts, conducting negotiations, and finding potential partners were within the remit of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment.
Despite this, the leaders of the parliamentary groups of “Estonia 200,” the Social Democratic Party, and “Isamaa” called on the minister to step down.
Hanno Pevkur had headed Estonia’s Ministry of Defence since 2022. His resignation followed criticism over oversight of defense procurement and the use of public funds.