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EESTI ELU reedel, 11. detsembril 2020 — Friday, December 11, 2020
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Estonia, four other countries LIFESTYLE initiate UN discussion on Belarus Interior designer Kristiina Roosimaa’s holiday picks election fraud, human rights The Baltic Times, BNS, December 2020 TALLINN – On the initiative of Austria, Estonia, Lithuania, Germany and the United Kingdom, a virtual United Nations side-event was held recently, where professor Wolfgang Benedek briefed UN member states on an independent report drawn up under the OSCE’s Moscow Mechanism. The report, initiated by Estonia and 16 other OSCE participating states, proves the falsification of the elections of Belarus and extensive violations of the human rights of peaceful protesters. At the meeting, Estonia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Sven Jurgenson emphasized that the findings of the report confirmed election fraud as well as major human rights abuses committed by the authorities. “The perpetrators of such deeds must be held accountable, because impunity only adds more fuel to the fire. Unfortunately, as the report shows, not a single criminal case has been opened on any case of torture and ill-treatment,” Jurgenson said. He also expressed deep concern over the restrictions on media freedom and freedom of
Russia is preparing… (Continued from page 13)
triumph of United Russia at a time when most Russians abhor what opposition leader Alexei Navalny famously referred to as “the party of crooks and thieves.” The Meduza news website reported that officials from the presidential administration held a closed meeting with 50 State Duma deputies. There, they issued instructions to secure a constitutional majority in the 2021 elections, meaning that the deputies must retain at least two-thirds of the current parliamentary seats to preserve the current configuration of political factions. Apparently, Krem lin leaders are convinced that a triumph of the party faithful will demonstrate the unity of the Russian people and instill fear into western hearts. Two things are worth noting here. First, the election campaign has de facto begun, as demonstrated not only by the secret meetings of the presidential administration, but also by the casting call for candidates. New parties designed to meet the political yearnings of Russian conservatives and liberals, sofa-
speech both online and offline. “The report states clearly that in Belarus there is no media freedom, no freedom of assembly nor expression,” the ambassador said. “We have previously discussed the situation in Belarus in the Security Council and it worries me that we have seen no improvements,” Jurgenson said. Estonia urges the Bela rusian authorities to reconsider their approach, engage with the OSCE and make use of the recommendations in the report. The 72 recommendations of the report include a call to cancel the results of the elections of August 9, bring the electoral law in conformity with international standards, immediately cease all violence, release poli tical prisoners, ensure the safety of journalists and refrain from limiting access to internet. The international community is addressing the human rights violations in Belarus in several formats this week. In addition to the event with professor Benedek, Estonia’s permanent representative to the UN also spoke at a discussion held with representatives of the civil so ciety on the political prisoners of Belarus. Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu will attend a Human Rights Council discussion on Belarus.
bound Donbass militants and those who dream of a European choice for Russia are off to a slow start. In the end, they might all be disappointed because all roads might very well lead to United Russia. At the same time, the current deputies are vying desperately with each other by putting forward ever more idiotic bills in hopes of “making the cut” in the eighth convocation of the Duma. Second, the bid for United Russia to gain a constitutional majority is diametrically opposed to the will of the people. Striving for a consensus based on support for Putin is to ima gine that Russia will forever live in the world of 2014, when he enjoyed a wave of support for the “Crimean spring.” The Kremlin is pushing for a never-ending Belorussian-style grip on power at a time when citizens are hoping for change instead. If orders call for United Russia to clinch a commanding triumph in the upcoming elections, the authorities will have to fudge the tallies no less than the authorities did in Minsk, at the risk of sparking a similar revolt by Russian voters.
ESTONIAN LIFE
Your source of news about Estonia and Estonians, home and abroad
As we are getting closer to Christmas eve, I have been finding some really nice home decor that reflects this time, where we need some quiet time to reflect and the natural tones and materials portray the purification and peace.
Beautiful throw along with the furry bear twins are from Alpaka – our very own Estonian brand Natural oils to calm our minds from Saje Canada
Indoor-Outdoor stool from Bouclair
Simple flowerpots are perfect for housing those Christmas Amaryllis flowers – Bouclair Canada
Perfect stocking stuffers are small gifts with big words – H&M Canada
The homeless blues, sung by a neighbourhood The slender one knows Mt. Pleasant and Eglinton, where St. Peter’s Estonian Lutheran Church is sited, very well. Also the vicinity. The neigh bourhood is near and dear to his heart. But what a trans formation over the last years, beginning with the incredibly expensive (and delayed) con struction of the LRT line. Many businesses, even before the pandemic, were forced to close. It is hard to overemphasize the negative effect of the decision by the City to house the homeless in the Roehampton Hotel, kitty-corner from the church. The filth and the fear – people avoid that intersection at all costs. It has been documented that behind the protective wall of the columbarium of the church syringes are being found daily. Human droppings on front lawns of homes, in parking lots. Garbage everywhere, including overturned recycling bins, looking for empties to redeem for deposit money.
and food that leads to this astoundingly high cost. Then there are the local businesses that are already suffering thanks to the lockdown, inane decisions made by politicians. The Homeway is a wonderful family-owned restaurant on Mt. Pleasant, north of the church. In business since 1946, they serve perhaps the best breakfast for the price around. Jessica Burns is an owner, who the slimster knows from being a semi-regular customer when in the area. A delightful human being. Imagine the surprise seeing her on the news in the summer, reporting on their first ever breakin. Alcohol and technology were taken. Imagine the consternation, when a month later that happened again. No coincidence, that this took place after addicted homeless were moved into the area.
The lean one also happens to know a colourful local character, a self-described treasure hunter. Who orates on topics as diverse as Buddhism and A number of stabbings have the psychology of addiction. been reported on the hotel’s Hap penstance brought about grounds. Assaults, verbal and running into Clay after the physical. Now last Friday’s recent death. He lives in the news report of a “suspicious area, pays rent, not subsidized death” in the hotel. The Toronto by the taxpayer. Like the Sun, reporting the incident, homeless are. He provided the added that the cost to Toronto information that people are taxpayers is $220 daily per leaving the neighbourhood in housed individual. When the droves. Many do not renew building was a budget hotel, their leases. One apartment operating for profit, no room building on Roehampton has 20 cost that much. It is the involve- vacancies. A scant year ago ment of bureaucrats, security apartments avai lable were as
rare as hen’s teeth. He knew of a case where a woman living in a ground floor apartment had three attempts in one week to enter her premises by climbing over the ground level balcony railing and attempting to jimmy the door. She has since moved. Fire boxes, meant for firefighters to access the master key of all apartments in the case of a conflagration have been jimmied, cameras have caught people in that building, police have been called but arrive too late to apprehend the trespassers intent on burglary. On a final sad note. Local bar Scruffy Murphy’s, a small intimate place that provided excellent live music on Satur day nights, is yet another victim of the lockdown. Shuttered for good, Scruffy was located where The Golden Griddle ruled for decades. (Open 24 hours, after The Chick’n’Deli jazz bar shut down for the night, it was the perfect place to get grease to temper the inevitable hangover.) The Griddle closed because of the transit construction paralyzing the street. First the LRT, then Covid-19, now the homeless running rampant. Bad things come in threes. A once peaceful neighbourhood changed irrevocably. Is that the reason the good minister of St. Peter’s is so anxious to sell a hallowed place of worship? Or are there other, more nefarious forces at play? OTEPÄÄ SLIM
