The Riigikogu deprived Kert Kingo of parliamentary immunity | Estonia

The decision on whether to deprive a deputy of immunity or not is made by parliament. To revoke immunity, the consent of a majority of the members of the Riigikogu is required.

66 deputies voted for depriving Kingo of parliamentary immunity, 13 were against, and one deputy abstained.

Kingo is suspected of misusing funds allocated for entertainment expenses, and according to the constitution, permission from the Riigikogu is required to continue legal proceedings against a member of the Riigikogu.

At the request of the prosecutor’s office, Chancellor of Justice Ülle Madise submitted a proposal to the Riigikogu to revoke Kingo’s parliamentary immunity. Madise stressed that the deputy cannot be considered guilty before a guilty verdict is passed; only the court can make a decision on guilt.

“It is very important to note here that we have a presumption of innocence. Neither the submission of such a proposal to the Riigikogu, nor the possible decision of parliament to revoke parliamentary immunity – and until now it has revoked parliamentary immunity in such cases – does not mean that a person is guilty. The assessment of evidence and guilt is still made by the court. The task of the Chancellor of Justice is to make sure that the case is not clearly groundless and politically calculated. And we really did not find such signs,” Madise said.

In her speech, Kingo said that usually illegally made expenses are returned to the Chancellery of the Riigikogu, but she was not asked to return the money.

According to EKRE Chairman Martin Helme, suspicions against Kingo are politically motivated, and the prosecutor’s office is an instrument of the ruling regime.

After the decision of the Riigikogu, Kingo will be charged and the case will go to trial. A deputy who has lost parliamentary immunity continues to be a member of parliament.

Last August, Kert Kingo and lawyer Martin Traat were suspected of crimes related to the use of compensation to members of the Riigikogu. According to suspicions, Kingo paid legal bills for three people totaling almost 10,000 euros from her compensation.

This spring, Kingo ran for the Riigikogu and was elected with 3,095 votes.