From: Aivar Engel
Sent: Friday, July 3, 2026 2:43 PM
To: 'Eugene Ponomarov' <[email protected]>
Cc: Riigikaitsekomisjon <[email protected]>
Subject: RE: Proposals regarding Bill No. 962 SE (Amendments to the Kaitseliit Act)

Your: 3 July 2026

Our: 3 July 2026 No 1-1/15-962/5

Dear Mr Ponomarov

Thank you for your letter and suggestions. We have registered it as an opinion and annexed it to the Bill (962 SE), which means that it is forwarded to the National Defence Committee and the members of the Riigikogu who initiated the Bill. The Bill expands the right to participate in fulfilling the tasks of the Defence League to all the supporting members of the League. 

Another issue concerns the provisions of the Bill on the duty to serve in the Defence Forces for foreign citizens, which is set out in the Military Service Act and has been allowed only to citizens of NATO member state.

The National Defence Committee as the lead committee will discuss the Bill in autumn and will form its position regarding your opinion as well. 

The Chairman of the Committee Kalev Stoicescu has also requested the opinion of the Defence League General Assembly, General Board, and Council of Elders (as required by law).

This means that you could also give your input for the General Assembly through the Defence League Tartu Malev. 

Yours sincerely,                                                                

Mag. iur. Aivar Engel

Riigikogu riigikaitsekomisjoni nõunik-sekretariaadijuhataja

Adviser/Head of Secretariat of the National Defence Committee

T: +372 631 6470

Riigikogu. Lossi plats 1a, 15165 Tallinn. 

www.riigikogu.ee