Estonian anti-corruption commission investigates defence procurement risks

The Estonian Parliament’s anti-corruption special commission is continuing its public investigation into corruption risks within the defence sector. The inquiry focuses on problematic ammunition contracts and the role of intermediaries in procurement processes.

Commission Chair Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart stated that the committee has yet to receive documentation clarifying how contacts were established with the Indian company Datasel and the Turkish company ARCA Defence. The commission intends to question Datasel representatives directly regarding their contact with the Estonian state and any intermediaries involved.

A central issue in the investigation is the allegation that the Riigikogu was provided with misleading information during the state budget process. While the parliament was assured that no risks existed, documents reviewed by the commission suggest the Ministry of Defence was aware of the risks from the beginning and chose to accept them. Furthermore, the State Defence Procurement Centre (RKIK) had reportedly advised against entering into such intermediary contracts as early as autumn 2024. The commission is seeking to determine who is responsible for the discrepancy between the ministry's internal knowledge and the information provided to parliament.