Long-time civil servant: MoD permanent secretary dismissed without due process
The Estonian government's dismissal of Defense Ministry Permanent Secretary Kaimo Kuusk has been criticized for bypassing legal due process. Former state secretary Taimar Peterkop warned that such actions undermine governance and legal norms within the civil service.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns about political interference in non-partisan government roles and the potential erosion of institutional trust in Estonia's defense sector.
0" class="share-svg-text" aria-label="Marked as liked. Number of likes is {{contentCtrl.likes}}" fill="#FFF" font-size="12px" text-anchor="middle" dominant-baseline="middle" x="49%" y="53%">{{contentCtrl.likes}} kopeeri link --> share Facebook X (Twitter) Messenger --> e-mail Taimar Peterkop. Source: Priit Mürk/ERR News The government disregarded the spirit of the law when it dismissed Defense Ministry Permanent Secretary Kaimo Kuusk, said former state secretary Taimar Peterkop.
The government removed Ministry of Defense Permanent Secretary Kuusk on September 10 at outgoing Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur's request following controversy over military accounting and defense procurement. Incoming ministerial candidate Martin Herem had reportedly made Kuusk's departure a condition of accepting the post. Although a minister may dismiss a secretary general when cooperation fails, the Civil Service Act requires them to work together for at least six months first.
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