Estonia
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- June 28, 1992; amended several times, last in 2015
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as mandatory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- unicameral, Parliament (Riigikogu)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court (composed of 19 judges, including the chief judge, and organized into civil, criminal, administrative, and constitutional review chambers); district courts (of appeal); administrative, provincial, municipal, and specialized courts
RELIGIONS
Orthodox 16.2%, Lutheran 9.9%, other Christians (including Methodists, Seventh-day Adventists, Roman Catholics, Pentecostals) 2.2%, others 0.9%, none 54.1%, unspecified 16.7% (estimate 2011)
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2003EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
Estonia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1998
Estonia abolished the death penalty for all crimes in 1998
- MAY 11, 2002EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
Serial killer Yuri Ustimenko, was caught in Poland...
Serial killer Yuri Ustimenko, was caught in Poland earlier the week
- MAY 3, 2002EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
Estonia signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention...
Estonia signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
- JANUARY 1, 2002EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament adopted an...
In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament adopted an amendment to the criminal code introducing life imprisonment as an alternative to the death sentence
- JULY 13, 2001EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
The Eesti Pevaleht newspaper reported that the TOM...
The Eesti Pevaleht newspaper reported that the TOM website, which enables the public to propose law amendments, held the public voting session for the most popular proposals
- APRIL 25, 2001EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
Estonia was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death...
Estonia was a cosponsor of the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 25, 2001
- JANUARY 1, 2001EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
The last time capital punishment was carried out in...
The last time capital punishment was carried out in Estonia was in 1991
- JANUARY 1, 2001EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament adopted an...
In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament adopted an amendment to the criminal code introducing life imprisonment as an alternative to the death sentence
- NOVEMBER 2, 2000EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
The Riigikogu [parliament] speaker, Toomas Savi, said...
The Riigikogu [parliament] speaker, Toomas Savi, said that many EU [European Union] developments approved by politicians were against the will of the majority of people
- MAY 16, 2000EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
A survey organised by the Estonian Church Council,...
A survey organised by the Estonian Church Council, Estonian Gospel Alliance and Estonian Bible Society and handled by letter among 1,700 respondents, showed that 57 percent of the respondents in a poll on religious attitudes said they favoured capital pun
- APRIL 26, 2000EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
Estonia cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty...
Estonia cosponsored the resolution on the death penalty approved by the UN Commission on Human Rights on April 26 (no
- JANUARY 1, 2000EstoniaDEATH PENALTY
In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament adopted an...
In December 1996, the Estonian Parliament adopted an amendment to the Criminal Code introducing life imprisonment as an alternative to the death sentence