Together (Estonian political party)
Together Koos Вместе | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader | Aivo Peterson Leila Eerits Eduard Fedotov |
| Founded | 19 May 2022 |
| Legalized | 8 May 2023 |
| Membership (2024) | 784[1] |
| Ideology | Social conservatism Russian minority politics Russophilia Non-interventionism[2] |
| Riigikogu | 0 / 101 |
| European Parliament | 0 / 7 |
| Municipalities | 3 / 1,688 |
Together (Estonian: Koos, Russian: Вместе), officially known as TOGETHER organization points to sovereignty (Estonian: KOOS organisatsioon osutab suveräänsusele) and previously known as the Party of Estonian Patriots TOGETHER (Estonian: Eesti Patriootide Erakond KOOS; Russian: Партия патриотов Эстонии ВМЕСТЕ),[3] is a Russian-minority, pro-Russia[4] political party in Estonia. According to the party, its main goal is to ensure peace in Estonia and harmonious relations among peoples.[2] It was led by Aivo Peterson and cryptocurrency businessman Oleg Ivanov, who was on the list of the Estonian United Left Party for the 2023 parliamentary election. On 19 May 2023, Ivanov announced that he was moving to Russia to lead the party from there out of fear of detention by the Estonian Internal Security Service.[5]
History
[edit]The non-profit association Koos Rahu Eest in Eesti is registered with the movement. On 24 April 2022, Ivanov posted a video in which he called the Bucha massacre staged. He said, "Estonia is destined to be destroyed in the war with Russia. The allies are fighting Russia with the hands of their vassal states, and not directly. According to the plans of the allies, Estonia will be destroyed. Everything is being done so that the Baltic states become the next hotbed of war. The same criminals who brought the masses to syringes are now pushing countries to go to war with Russia."[This quote needs a citation]
Ivanov appeared on a November 2022 program hosted by Russian and pro-Kremlin TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov, where he said that Estonia should be open to negotiations and escalation" did not bode well: "Our main message is peace and inter-ethnic harmony in Estonia." Danish Radio (DR) quoted him as saying, "I know that Putin launched a military operation. But I also know that if Putin had not done it, the Ukrainian army would have attacked Donbas within days".[6]
On 30 November 2022, the Tartu County Court registry department did not register the movement as a political party because its membership was below the required minimum of 500.[7] The movement participated in the 2023 elections as part of the Estonian United Left Party. In January 2023, the movement held a prayer service "for peace" with the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.[8]
In March 2023, party leader Aivo Peterson was detained by Estonian border police on his return from Russia, where he had gone after traveling to Ukrainian occupied territories to film videos in support of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Peterson and two others were charged under Section 235(1) of the Estonian penal code, which prohibits associations from pursuing relationships considered harmful to the Estonian state.[9] Together was registered as a political party on 8 May of that year.[10] Ivanov left Estonia for Russia by 19 May, saying that he did so because he could be arrested by Estonian police as Peterson had, and it would be difficult to lead the party and participate in elections from prison.[11]
On 22 May 2023, the daily newspaper Õhtuleht reported that the party might have no members due to the possibility that it registered its members incorrectly.[12] In July, the daily Eesti Ekspress published an article confirming that the party's new leader was Julia Smoli because Peterson was detained and Ivanov was in Russia.[13] On 7 September, the State Prosecutor's Office charged Peterson with treason.[14][8]
Programme
[edit]The movement supports Eastonian neutrality, the country's non-participation in military alliances such as NATO), granting Estonian citizenship to all who lived there in 1991, and abolishing the "gray passport" for residents with undefined citizenship. It also supports the "preservation and protection of traditional values, family, religion, cultural and historical heritage ... a ban on rewriting history and destroying monuments, and a requirement that defense spending not exceed one percent of gross domestic product."[15]
Election results
[edit]European Parliament elections
[edit]| Election | List leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/− | EP Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Aivo Peterson | 11,507 | 3.13 (#7) | 0 / 7
|
New | − |
References
[edit]- ^ "Äriregistri teabesüsteem" (in Estonian). Retrieved 13 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Welcome to the website of the Peace Movement KOOS/TOGETHER !". 4 May 2022. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Üldrahvaliku Liikumise "KOOS" Deklaratsioon № 1 | Koos / Вместе" (in Russian). 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ ERR News. KOOS saga reveals shortcomings in party registration process. Retrieved 30 May 2023
- ^ ERR, Viktor Solts | (2023-05-19). "Koos party's chair departs for Russia to lead the party from there". ERR. Retrieved 2023-05-19.
- ^ "Venemeelsed konservatiivid ja vasakpoolsed ühes paadis: liikumine Koos tahab riigikokku". Valimised 2023 (in Estonian). 2023-01-19. Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ "Eesti putinistide erakonda ei registeeritud ja riigikogu valimistel nad osaleda ei tohi". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
- ^ a b "Estonia banishes Russian Orthodox leader as 'security risk'". The Guardian. 18 January 2024. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
- ^ Court rejects Aivo Peterson custody appeal
- ^ ERR Uudised. Tartu maakohus registreeris erakonna Koos. Retrieved 10 May 2023
- ^ Erakonna Koos juht Ivanov lahkus Venemaale ja juhib erakonda sealt ERR, 19. mai 2023
- ^ "Äriregistri teabesüsteem" (in Estonian). Retrieved 2024-07-15.
- ^ "Parteijuht Julia Smoli, kurikuulsa Aivo Petersoni ja Oleg Ivanovi asendaja". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-10-12.
- ^ ERR (2023-09-07). "Aivo Peterson sai süüdistuse riigireetmises". ERR (in Estonian). Retrieved 2023-09-11.
- ^ https://koos-vmeste.ee/