Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced his resignation on Wednesday following criticism from the National Audit Office over the activities of the Estonian Defence Forces and the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK).
Pevkur announced his resignation on Wednesday evening during the television programme Aktuaalne kaamera.
He said the allegations raised by the National Audit Office were serious enough for him to assume political responsibility and step down.
On Tuesday, prosecutors announced that criminal proceedings had been launched over irregularities identified within the area of responsibility of the Ministry of Defence.
The National Audit Office’s audit examined the accuracy of the state’s 2024 financial statements and the legality of transactions.
The scandal erupted after it emerged that Estonia had paid €70 million in advance to an Indian company for ammunition intended for Ukraine, despite the company having no previous experience with transactions of this kind.
Former RKIK director Magnus-Valdemar Saar confirmed that all major decisions had been made with the approval of the Ministry of Defence. During negotiations on the initial contract, Pevkur was kept informed, as was the ministry’s then secretary general Kusti Salm and later his successor Kaimo Kuusk.
Pevkur had served as Estonia’s defence minister since 2022.
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