Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur has resigned following the discovery of serious irregularities in the country's arms procurement process.
According to Report, Pevkur announced his decision on Estonia"s State Television (ERR) program "Aktuaalne Kaamera", stating that findings by the State Audit Office regarding the activities of the Estonian Defense Forces and the Center for Defense Investments (RKIK) required him to assume political responsibility.
"I am ready to take this responsibility, I accept it, and the Prime Minister [Kristen Michal] must appoint a new defense minister," Pevkur said.
ERR reported that Estonia had planned to purchase ammunition for Ukraine and paid an advance of about €70 million to Italy"s Datasel S.R.L. It later emerged that the company was essentially a formal entity controlled by an Indian business family, and the funds" whereabouts remain unclear.
Instead of receiving ammunition, Estonia was left with empty promises.
To resolve the issue, Tallinn has appealed to the European Court of Arbitration in Strasbourg, which will review the dispute.