100 Notable alumni of
University of Tartu
Updated:
The University of Tartu is 176th in the world, 59th in Europe, and 1st in Estonia by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 100 notable alumni from the University of Tartu sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff.
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Kaja Kallas
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1995-1999
- Occupations
- politicianbusiness undergraduatelawyerdiplomatjurist
- Biography
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Kaja Kallas is an Estonian politician and diplomat. She was the first female prime minister of Estonia, a role she held from 2021 until 2024, when she resigned in advance of her appointment as High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Since 2024, she has served in that role as well as Vice-President of the European Commission in the second von der Leyen Commission.
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Kersti Kaljulaid
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1992
- Occupations
- businesspersondirectorconsultantcivil servantsportsperson
- Biography
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Kersti Kaljulaid is an Estonian politician who served as the fifth president of Estonia between 2016 and 2021, and was its first and only female head of state since the country declared independence in 1918. She was also the youngest president, aged 46 at the time of her election.
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Jüri Ratas
- Occupations
- basketball playerpolitician
- Biography
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Jüri Ratas is an Estonian politician who served as the prime minister of Estonia from 2016 to 2021 and as the leader of the Centre Party from 2016 to 2023, and the mayor of Tallinn from 2005 to 2007. Ratas was a member of the Centre Party until switching to Isamaa in 2024.
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Siim Kallas
- Occupations
- officialbankerpoliticiansportspersonjournalist
- Biography
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Siim Kallas is an Estonian former politician who served as Prime Minister of Estonia from 2002 to 2003 and as a European Commissioner from 2004 to 2014.
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Lennart Meri
- Occupations
- film directorphilologistwriterhistoriantranslator
- Biography
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Lennart Georg Meri was an Estonian writer, film director, and statesman. He was the country's foreign minister from 1990 to 1992 and President of Estonia from 1992 to 2001.
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Edgar Savisaar
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- In 1973 studied study of history
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Edgar Savisaar was an Estonian politician, one of the founding members of Popular Front of Estonia and the Centre Party. He served as the acting Prime Minister of Estonia, Minister of the Interior, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, and twice mayor of Tallinn.
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Vikenty Veresaev
- Occupations
- physician writerlinguistbiographerwritertranslator
- Biography
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Vikenty Vikentyevich Smidovich, better known by his pen name Vikenty Vikentyevich Veresaev, (Russian: Вике́нтий Вике́нтьевич Вереса́ев) was a Russian and Soviet writer, translator and medical doctor of Polish descent.
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Mart Helme
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1973
- Occupations
- singerpoliticianhistoriandiplomatjournalist
- Biography
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Mart Helme is an Estonian politician, diplomat and historian who served as the Minister of the Interior from 2019 to 2020. He was the longtime chairman of the national conservative Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) from 13 April 2013 to 4 July 2020 when he was succeeded by his son Martin Helme.
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Taavi Rõivas
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- In 2002 graduated with bachelor's degree
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Taavi Rõivas is an Estonian politician, former Prime Minister of Estonia from 2014 to 2016 and former leader of the Reform Party. Before his term as the Prime Minister, Rõivas was the Minister of Social Affairs from 2012 to 2014. On 9 November 2016 his second cabinet dissolved after coalition partners, Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and Social Democratic Party, sided with the opposition in a no confidence motion. At the end of 2020, Rõivas announced quitting politics, and resigned from his parliament seat.
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Jaan Kross
- Occupations
- poet lawyerpedagogueprofessorwriterscreenwriter
- Biography
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Jaan Kross was an Estonian writer. He won the 1995 International Nonino Prize in Italy.
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Andrus Ansip
- Occupations
- bankerpoliticianentrepreneurbusinesspersonchemist
- Biography
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Andrus Ansip is an Estonian politician, a member of the European Parliament, the former European Commissioner for Digital Single Market and Vice President of the European Commission, in office from 2014 until 2019. Previously, he was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2005 to 2014 and chairman of the liberal Estonian Reform Party (Estonian: Reformierakond) from 2004 to 2014.
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Jaan Tallinn
- Occupations
- computer scientistengineerinvestorentrepreneur
- Biography
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Jaan Tallinn is an Estonian computer programmer and investor known for his participation in the development of Skype and file-sharing application FastTrack/Kazaa.
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Mart Laar
- Occupations
- historianwriterpolitician
- Biography
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Mart Laar is an Estonian politician and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia's rapid economic development during the 1990s. He is a member of the centre-right Isamaa party.
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Andrus Kivirähk
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1993
- Occupations
- playwrightchildren's writerhumoristjournalistactor
- Biography
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Andrus Kivirähk is an Estonian writer, a playwright, topical satirist, and screenwriter. As of 2004, 25,000 copies of his novel Rehepapp ehk November (Old Barny or November) had been sold, making him the most popular 21st-century Estonian writer. His book The Man Who Spoke Snakish (Mees, kes teadis ussisõnu, 2007) has been one of the top selling books in Estonia. He has been a member of the Estonian Writers' Union (in Estonian: Eesti Kirjanike Liit) since 1996.
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Martin Helme
- Occupations
- journalistpolitician
- Biography
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Martin Helme is an Estonian politician and current leader of the Conservative People's Party (EKRE). From 2019 to 2021 he was the country's Minister of Finance.
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Oskar Luts
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1911-1914
- Occupations
- writerpharmacistscreenwriterhumorist
- Biography
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Oskar Luts was an Estonian writer and playwright.
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Kadri Simson
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1995-2000
- Occupations
- European Commissionerpolitician
- Biography
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Kadri Simson is an Estonian politician, formerly from the Centre Party, who served as the European Commissioner for Energy in the von der Leyen Commission between 2019 and 2024.
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Eno Raud
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- In 1952 studied Estonian
- Occupations
- writerchildren's writer
- Biography
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Eno Raud was an Estonian children's writer. His works are considered classics in Estonia as well as in the other former Soviet countries. Raud was included in International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Honour List in 1974.
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Kristina Šmigun-Vähi
- Occupations
- cross-country skierpolitician
- Biography
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Kristina Šmigun-Vähi is a former Estonian female cross-country skier and politician. She is the most successful Estonian female cross-country skier with two Olympic gold medals. Since 2019, Šmigun-Vähi, a member of the Reform Party, has served as a member of the Estonian Parliament.
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Tomas Venclova
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- 1966-1971 studied semiotics
- Occupations
- university teacherwriterliterary historiantranslatorpoet
- Biography
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Tomas Venclova is a Lithuanian poet, prose writer, scholar, philologist and translator of literature. He is one of the five founding members of the Lithuanian Helsinki Group. In 1977, following his dissident activities, he was forced to emigrate and was deprived of his Soviet citizenship. Since 1980, he has taught Russian and Polish literature at Yale University. Considered a major figure in world literature, he has received many awards, including the Prize of Two Nations (received jointly with Czesław Miłosz), and The Person of Tolerance of the Year Award from the Sugihara Foundation, among other honors.
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Jaan Kaplinski
- Occupations
- philosopherjournalistuniversity teacherchildren's writeressayist
- Biography
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Jaan Kaplinski was an Estonian poet, philosopher, politician, and culture critic, known for his focus on global issues and support for left-wing/liberal thinking. He was influenced by Eastern philosophical schools (Taoism and especially Buddhism).
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Marina Kaljurand
- Occupations
- badminton playerlawyerdiplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Marina Kaljurand is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament. Kaljurand served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in Taavi Rõivas' second cabinet as an independent. Earlier, she served as the Ambassador of Estonia to the United States, Russia, Mexico, Canada, Kazakhstan, and Israel.
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Jevgeni Ossinovski
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- 2004-2007 graduated with Bachelor of Arts
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jevgeni Ossinovski is an Estonian politician, formerly the mayor of Tallinn and former leader of the Estonian Social Democratic Party.
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Kristina Kallas
- Occupations
- politicianpolitical scientist
- Biography
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Kristina Kallas is an Estonian politician who is the leader of the Eesti 200 party. She is not related to former Prime Ministers Kaja and Siim Kallas.
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Ion Inculeț
- Occupations
- mathematicianpoliticianphysicist
- Biography
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Ion Inculeț was a Bessarabian and Romanian politician. He served as President of the Country Council of the Moldavian Democratic Republic, Minister of the Interior of Romania, and, from 1918, a full member of the Romanian Academy.
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Evelin Ilves
- Occupations
- physiciansportspersonentrepreneurchief marketing officer
- Biography
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Evelin Ilves is the second wife of President of Estonia Toomas Hendrik Ilves. She was the First Lady of Estonia from 9 October 2006 until their divorce on 30 April 2015.
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Riho Terras
- Occupations
- military personnelsportspersonpolitician
- Biography
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Riho Terras is an Estonian politician and a former military officer who is serving as a member of the European Parliament since 1 February 2020. He was the Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces from 2011 to 2018. He was promoted to general in 2017.
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Urmas Reinsalu
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- In 1997 studied jurisprudence
- Occupations
- juristpolitician
- Biography
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Urmas Reinsalu is an Estonian politician who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023 and previously from 2019 to 2021. Before that, Urmas has served as the Minister of Defence between 2012 and 2014, and Minister of Justice from 2015 to 2019. Reinsalu is a member and current leader of the Isamaa ("Fatherland") political party (formerly called the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union), and was the party leader from 2012 to 2015.
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Vaino Väljas
- Occupations
- diplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Vaino Väljas was a Soviet and Estonian diplomat and politician. Väljas was leader of the Communist party in Soviet Estonia from 1988 to 1991, and the leader of Democratic Estonian Workers Party from 1992 to 1995 in independent Estonia.
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Arseny Roginsky
- Occupations
- historiographerhistorianbibliographerhuman rights defenderpolitical activist
- Biography
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Arseny Borisovich Roginsky was a Soviet dissident and Russian historian. He was one of the founders of the International Historical and Civil Rights Society Memorial, and its head since 1998.
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Margus Tsahkna
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Margus Tsahkna is an Estonian politician. He has been Minister of Foreign Affairs since the third cabinet of Kaja Kallas was sworn in on 17 April 2023 and continues in that role in Kristen Michal's cabinet. He is also the leader of the Estonia 200 party since 19 November 2023.
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Indrek Hargla
- Occupations
- writerscience fiction writerlawyerscreenwriter
- Biography
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Indrek Hargla is an Estonian writer. He is one of the most prominent Estonian writers of science fiction and crime novels. His most notable work is the Apothecary Melchior series, where activity takes place in medieval Tallinn.
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Hilda Taba
- Years
- 1902-1967 (aged 65)
- Occupations
- educational theoristteacherpedagoguearchitect
- Biography
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Hilda Taba was an architect, a curriculum theorist, a curriculum reformer, and a teacher educator. Taba was born in the small village of Kooraste, Estonia. Her mother's name was Liisa Leht, and her father was a schoolmaster whose name was Robert Taba. Hilda Taba began her education at the Kanepi Parish School. She then attended the Võru’s Girls’ Grammar School and earned her undergraduate degree in English and Philosophy at the University of Tartu. When Taba was given the opportunity to attend Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, she earned her master's degree. Following the completion of her degree at Bryn Mawr College, she attended Teachers College at Columbia University. She applied for a job at the University of Tartu but was turned down because she was female, so she became curriculum director at the Dalton School in New York City. In 1951, Taba accepted an invitation to become a professor at San Francisco State College, now known as San Francisco State University.
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Tadeusz Stefan Zieliński
- Occupations
- historianuniversity teacherclassical philologistphilologisttranslator
- Biography
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Tadeusz Stefan Zieliński was a Polish classical philologist, historian, and translator of Sophocles, Euripides and other classical authors into Russian. His most well-known works are Die Gliederung der altattischen Komoedie, Tragodumenon libri tres, and Iresione, the last of which is a collection of essays.
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Kristiina Ehin
- Occupations
- teachersongwriterpoetsingertranslator
- Biography
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Kristiina Ehin is an Estonian poet, translator, singer and songwriter.
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Hanno Pevkur
- Occupations
- politicianlawyersportspersonsports officialjurist
- Biography
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Hanno Pevkur is an Estonian politician who is currently the Minister of Defence. He is the former chairman of the Estonian Reform Party.
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Grigol Robakidze
- Occupations
- public figurepoetopinion journalistwriter
- Biography
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Grigol Robakidze was a Georgian writer, publicist, and public figure primarily known for his prose and anti-Soviet émigré activities.
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Jaak Madison
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Jaak Madison is an Estonian politician and a member of the European Parliament, where he is a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on International Trade. He was member and deputy chairman of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia until leaving the party in June 2024 and joining Estonian Centre Party.
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Betti Alver
- Occupations
- translatorpoetnovelistwriter
- Biography
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Elisabet "Betti" Alver, was one of Estonia's most notable poets. She was among the first generation to be educated in schools of an independent Estonia. She went to grammar school in Tartu.
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Uku Masing
- Occupations
- linguistpoetwritertranslatortheologian
- Biography
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Uku Masing was an Estonian polymath who contributed to theology, oriental studies, philosophy, poetry, folklore and to the field of ethnology. He was a significant figure in Estonian religious philosophy. Masing also wrote poetry, mostly on religious issues. Masing authored one novel, Rapanui vabastamine ehk Kajakad jumalate kalmistul (Liberation of Rapa Nui, or Seagulls at the Cemetery of Gods) in the late 1930s, which was published posthumously in 1989. As a folklorist, he was a distinguished researcher of fairy tales, contributing to the international Encyclopedia of the Folktale. He was awarded the Righteous Among The Nations by Yad Vashem and the Israeli Supreme Court for his participation during the Holocaust in helping a Jew in Estonia escape capture from 1941 until the end of the war. His actions exposed him to great danger during this period requiring him to meet with his friend as well as lying to the Gestapo.
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Tõnu Õnnepalu
- Occupations
- translatorpoetjournalistwriter
- Biography
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Tõnu Õnnepalu, also known by the pen names Emil Tode and Anton Nigov, is an Estonian poet, author and translator.
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Augusts Kirhenšteins
- Occupations
- university teacherpoliticianbiologist
- Biography
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Augusts Kirhenšteins, formerly spelt Kirchenšteins, was a Latvian and Soviet microbiologist, politician and educator. He was the de facto prime minister of Latvia from 20 June 1940 to 25 August 1940 and Acting de facto President of Latvia from 21 July 1940 to 25 August 1940. It was Kirhenšteins' Soviet puppet government that requested the incorporation of Latvia into the Soviet Union after the occupation of the country in 1940. He became a member of the Communist Party in 1941. He was Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic 1940–1952.
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Jürgen Ligi
- Occupations
- politicianeconomist
- Biography
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Jürgen Ligi is an Estonian politician, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a member and the vice-chairman of the liberal Reform Party. He was Minister of Education and Research in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet from 9 April 2015 to 12 September 2016. Previously, Ligi has served as the Minister of Defence from 2005 to 2007 and as the Minister of Finance from 2009 to 2014.
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Eva-Lotta Kiibus
- Occupations
- figure skater
- Biography
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Eva-Lotta Kiibus is a retired Estonian figure skater. She is the 2020 Nebelhorn Trophy champion, a two-time Estonian national champion (2020–21), and a three-time Tallink Hotels Cup champion (2018–2019, 2021). Kiibus has represented Estonia at the European and World championships and finished twenty-first at the 2022 Winter Olympics.
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Juhan Parts
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Juhan Parts is an Estonian politician who was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2003 to 2005 and Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications from 2007 to 2014. Juhan Parts is a member of Isamaa party.
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Tanel Kiik
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Tanel Kiik is an Estonian politician and former cabinet minister. After being an advisor, Kiik was Minister of Social Affairs from 2019 to 2021. In the government of Kaja Kallas, he became Minister of Health and Labour from 2021 to 2022, and was then Deputy Mayor of Tallinn. In 2023, he became a member of the Riigikogu, but left the Centre Party in 2024 for the Estonian Social Democratic Party.
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Mati Unt
- Occupations
- dramaturgedirectortheatrical directorwriterplaywright
- Biography
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Mati Unt was an Estonian writer, essayist and theatre director.
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Marju Lauristin
- Occupations
- university teachersociologistpolitician
- Biography
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Marju Lauristin is an Estonian politician, and former Member of the European Parliament and Minister of Social Affairs. She is a member of the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists. Lauristin is currently a member of the Tartu city council.
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Ilmar Raag
- Occupations
- screenwriterfilm directorjournalistactor
- Biography
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Ilmar Raag is an Estonian media executive, actor, screenwriter and film director, best known for his socio-critical film The Class. He was CEO of Estonian Television from 2002 to 2005. He is a well known columnist in many prestigious Estonian newspapers (Postimees, Eesti Päevaleht). He has written many scripts and directed critically acclaimed films, notably August 1991 and The Class.
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Urmas Sõõrumaa
- Occupations
- businesspersonsportspersonentrepreneur
- Biography
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Urmas Sõõrumaa is an Estonian businessman and sports personality.
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Rasmus Mägi
- Occupations
- hurdlerathletics competitorsprinter
- Biography
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Rasmus Mägi is an Estonian hurdler. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, he competed in the Men's 400 metres hurdles without qualifying for the semifinals. He won the silver medal at the 2014 European Championships. Mägi came in sixth at the 2016 Olympic Games with a national record of 48.40s and in seventh at the 2024 Olympic finals.
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Sven Mikser
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Sven Mikser is an Estonian politician. A member of the Social Democratic Party, he has served as a member of the European Parliament for Estonia since 2019. He previously served as minister of foreign affairs between 2016 and 2019 and minister of defence on two occasions. He also led his party between 2010 and 2015.
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Alberts Kviesis
- Occupations
- lawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Alberts Kviesis was a Latvian politician who served as third President of Latvia from 1930 to 1936.
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Lauri Hussar
- Occupations
- program hostjournalistediting staffpolitician
- Biography
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Lauri Hussar is an Estonian journalist and politician who has served as President of the Estonian parliament (Riigikogu) since 2023. He is a member of the Estonia 200 political party. Prior to his career in politics he was a journalist and television host, including being the editor-in-chief of the Postimees daily newspaper.
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Mihhail Lotman
- Occupations
- literary scholarliterary criticsemioticianpolitician
- Biography
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Mihhail Lotman is an Estonian literature researcher and politician, son of Juri Lotman and Zara Mints.
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Urmas Paet
- Occupations
- sportspersonjournalistdiplomatpolitician
- Biography
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Urmas Paet is an Estonian politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He is a member of the Reform Party, part of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2014 and Minister of Culture from 2003 to 2005. He was a member of the Estonian Parliament from 2003 to 2014.
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Katri Raik
- Occupations
- historianpolitician
- Biography
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Katri Raik is an Estonian politician who served as the Minister of the Interior from 2018 to 2019 and has intermittently served as the Mayor of Narva for three separate periods since 2020. She is a member of the Social Democratic Party. She was a Member of Riigikogu from 2018 to 2019 and the rector of the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences before she joined the government.
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Saima Harmaja
- Occupations
- poetwriter
- Biography
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Saima Rauha Maria Harmaja was a Finnish poet and writer. She is known for her tragic life and early death, which are reflected in her sensitive poems. She came from a prominent family; her maternal grandfather was Arvid Genetz. She wrote four collections of poetry.
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Ahti Heinla
- Occupations
- computer scientistengineerbusinesspersonentrepreneur
- Biography
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Ahti Heinla is an Estonian computer programmer and businessman. He is one of the developers of Skype.
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Anton Lutskevich
- Occupations
- opinion journalistpublisherlinguisthistorianjournalist
- Biography
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Anton Ivanavič Luckievič was a leading figure of the Belarusian independence movement in the early 20th century, an initiator of the proclamation of the independence of Belarus, the Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Belarusian Democratic Republic persecuted by the Soviet authorities. He was a brother of Ivan Luckievič.
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Doris Kareva
- Occupations
- editorwriterjournalisttranslatorpoet
- Biography
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Doris Kareva is an Estonian poet and translator. She served as the secretary general of the Estonian National Commission in UNESCO between 1992 and 2008.
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Fred Jüssi
- Years
- 1935-2024 (aged 89)
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1958
- Occupations
- writerjournalistzoologistnature photographerphotographer
- Biography
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Fred Jüssi was an Estonian biologist, nature writer and photographer.
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Ruuben Kaalep
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Ruuben Kaalep is a far-right Estonian politician and poet. He was a member of XIV Riigikogu. He is a founder of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia's youth organization, Blue Awakening. In 2024, he was expelled from the party and is now a member of the Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives.
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Vahur Kersna
- Occupations
- television presentercaricaturistjournalist
- Biography
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Vahur Kersna is an Estonian journalist, radio and television personality and caricaturist.
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Indrek Tarand
- Occupations
- journalistpolitician
- Biography
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Indrek Tarand is an Estonian politician and a former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He was an independent politician, but a member of the European Green Party.
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Usievalad Ihnatouski
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1911
- Occupations
- historianpolitician
- Biography
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Usievalad Makaravich Ihnatoŭski was a Belarusian politician, scholar and the first president of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus.
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Artur Sirk
- Occupations
- lawyersoldierpolitician
- Biography
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Artur Sirk was an Estonian political and military figure. A veteran of the country's struggle for independence, Sirk later became a leading figure within the right-wing Vaps Movement and an outspoken opponent of the government.
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Jüri Luik
- Occupations
- diplomatpoliticianjournalist
- Biography
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Jüri Luik is an Estonian diplomat and politician. He has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defence, and he has acted as Estonia's ambassador to Benelux, NATO, North America, and Russia.
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Eerik-Niiles Kross
- Occupations
- diplomatentrepreneurpolitician
- Biography
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Eerik-Niiles Kross is an Estonian politician, diplomat, former chief of intelligence and entrepreneur. He is a member of parliament (Riigikogu). During the 1980s, Kross was a prominent figure in the anti-Soviet non-violent resistance movement in Soviet Estonia. After re-independence, in 1991, he joined Estonia's Foreign Ministry. He served as the head of intelligence from 1995 to 2000; and as national security advisor to former President Lennart Meri in 2000 and 2001.
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Ingrid Rüütel
- Occupations
- anthropologist
- Biography
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Ingrid Rüütel is an Estonian folklorist, philologist and former First Lady of Estonia. She was married to former President of Estonia Arnold Rüütel until his death on 31 December 2024.
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Priit Pärn
- Occupations
- animation directorcaricaturistscreenwriterdirectorextra
- Biography
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Priit Pärn is an Estonian cartoonist and animation director whose films have enjoyed success among critics as well as the public at various film festivals.
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Silvi Vrait
- Occupations
- music educatorastrologerteacherstage actoractor
- Biography
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Silvi Vrait was an Estonian singer and music teacher.
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Riina Sikkut
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Riina Sikkut is an Estonian politician of the Social Democratic Party of Estonia who served as Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure in the second cabinet of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. She also served as Minister of Health and Labour in Jüri Ratas' first cabinet. She was sworn in on 2 May 2018, after the former minister Jevgeni Ossinovski had vacated the seat, and left the office on 29 April 2019.
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Paul-Eerik Rummo
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1965
- Occupations
- playwrightpoetliterary critictranslatorchildren's writer
- Biography
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Paul-Eerik Rummo is an Estonian poet, playwright, translator and politician who was the former Estonian Minister of Culture and Education, as well as the former Estonian Minister of Population Affairs.
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Otto Tief
- Occupations
- border guardsmanmilitary personnellawyerpolitician
- Biography
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Otto Tief was an Estonian politician, military commander, and a lawyer.
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Ursula Ratasepp
- Occupations
- film actoractorstage actor
- Biography
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Ursula Ratasepp is an Estonian stage, film and television actress.
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Saskia Alusalu
- Occupations
- speed skater
- Biography
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Saskia Alusalu is an Estonian speed skater. Alusalu represented Estonia at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
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Jaan Tätte
- Occupations
- actortelevision actorsongwriterwriterfilm actor
- Biography
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Jaan Tätte is an Estonian playwright, poet, actor, and singer.
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Andres Tarand
- Occupations
- climatologistgeographerpolitician
- Biography
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Andres Tarand is an Estonian geographer, climatologist and politician who served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1994 to 1995. He was also a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the Social Democratic Party, part of the Party of European Socialists, between 2004 and 2009.
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Tõnis Lukas
- Occupations
- historianpoliticianuniversity teacher
- Biography
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Tõnis Lukas is an Estonian politician, former Minister of Culture from 2019 to 2021 and Minister of Education and Research from 1999 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2011.
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Indrek Saar
- Occupations
- politicianstage actortelevision actorsportspersonactor
- Biography
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Indrek Saar is an Estonian actor and politician. He has been the leader of the Social Democratic Party from 2019 to 2022 and the Minister of Culture of Estonia from 2015 to 2019.
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Liina Kersna
- Occupations
- journalistpolitician
- Biography
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Liina Kersna is an Estonian journalist, civil servant and politician. From 2021 to 2022 Kersna was the Minister of Education and Research.
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Ain Kaalep
- Occupations
- linguistpoetwritertranslatorpolitician
- Biography
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Ain Kaalep was an Estonian poet, playwright, literary critic and translator.
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Debora Vaarandi
- Occupations
- poetwritertranslator
- Biography
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Debora Vaarandi was an Estonian writer, considered to be a leading literary figure in post–World War II Estonia. Many of her poems were set to music. Vaarandi was a recipient of the first Juhan Liiv Poetry Award, and was recognized with the Cultural Award of the Republic of Estonia for outstanding lifetime achievement.
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Sirje Helme
- Occupations
- art criticart historian
- Biography
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Sirje Helme is an Estonian art historian and art critic.
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Vahur Afanasjev
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 2002
- Occupations
- musicianfilm directorwritercomposerpoet
- Biography
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Vahur Afanasjev was an Estonian novelist, poet, musician and film director best known for his novel Serafima and Bogdan a story following the lives in a village of Russian Orthodox Old Believers on the shore of the lake Peipus from the end of the World War II to the nineties. The novel won the 2017 Estonian Writers' Union's Novel Competition.
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Kaarel Eenpalu
- Occupations
- civil servantpoliticiansportspersonjournalistfarmer
- Biography
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Kaarel Eenpalu was an Estonian journalist, politician and head of state, who served as 7th Prime Minister of Estonia.
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Andres Anvelt
- Occupations
- police officerwriterpolitician
- Biography
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Andres Anvelt is an Estonian politician and writer. He belonged to Social Democratic Party until 2019.
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Ülo Vooglaid
- Occupations
- sociologistpolitician
- Biography
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Ülo Vooglaid is an Estonian sociologist, educator and politician. He was a member of VII, VIII and X Riigikogu.
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Tunne Kelam
- Occupations
- historianarchivistpublisherpolitician
- Biography
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Tunne-Väldo Kelam is an Estonian politician and former Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Estonia. He is a member of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, part of the European People's Party.
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Jaak Aaviksoo
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1976
- Occupations
- head teacheruniversity teacherbasketball playerpoliticiansportsperson
- Biography
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Jaak Aaviksoo is an Estonian politician and physicist, a former rector of the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech).
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Marko Mihkelson
- Occupations
- journalistpolitician
- Biography
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Marko Mihkelson is an Estonian journalist and politician representing the liberal Estonian Reform Party (member of the European Parliament's liberal political group Renew Europe) in the Parliament of Estonia. Mihkelson was born in the Estonian city of Valga and was first elected to the parliament in 2003 as a member of the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union. He has served in parliament since 2003, holding several senior positions, including chairing the Foreign Affairs Committee, the EU Affairs Committee, and the National Defense Committee. On 26 June 2017, he and the former party leader, Margus Tsahkna, publicly announced their departure from the party. Mihkelson continued to serve as an independent politician until joining the Reform Party in September 2018.
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Kristiina Ojuland
- Occupations
- diplomatjuristpolitician
- Biography
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Kristiina Ojuland is an Estonian politician. She was the Foreign Minister of Estonia from 2002 through 2005. She was a member of the Estonian Reform Party from 1995 till 5 June 2013 and from 2009 to 2014 she served as one of the six Estonian MEPs in the European Parliament. She was expelled from the Reform Party because of alleged vote rigging on 5 June 2013. She later founded the Party of People's Unity, which failed to gain any seats in the 2015 and 2019 parliamentary election.
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Eva-Maria Liimets
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied in 1996
- Occupations
- diplomat
- Biography
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Eva-Maria Liimets is an Estonian politician. She served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs in the cabinet of Prime Minister Kaja Kallas. She was nominated by the Estonian Centre Party as an independent in January 2021 and officially joined the party on 9 June 2021. Along with all seven cabinet ministers of the governing coalition’s junior partner, she was dismissed on 3 June 2022.
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Hannes Hanso
- Occupations
- politician
- Biography
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Hannes Hanso is an Estonian politician and diplomat, a former member of the Estonian Social Democratic Party. Hanso was the Minister of Defence in Taavi Rõivas' cabinet from September 2015 to November 2016. Since 2022, he is the ambassador to China.
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Jaan Ehlvest
- Occupations
- chess player
- Biography
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Jaan Ehlvest is an Estonian-American chess player. He was awarded the title Grandmaster by FIDE in 1987. Ehlvest was Estonian champion in 1986. Since 2006, he has represented the United States.
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Aivar Pohlak
- Occupations
- association football coachsports officialsportspersoncoachwriter
- Biography
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Aivar Pohlak is an Estonian football official, a former football player (striker), referee, and football coach. Since March 2007, he has been the President of the Estonian Football Association (EJL) after being its Vice President for four years. He is the member of UEFA Executive Committee since 2025.
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Ene Ergma
- Enrolled in the University of Tartu
- Studied physics
- Occupations
- astronomerpoliticianphysicist
- Biography
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Ene Ergma is an Estonian politician, a member of the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament), and scientist. She was a member of the political party Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica and, before the two parties merged, a member of Res Publica Party. On 1 June 2016, Ergma announced her resignation from the party, because the party had lost its identity and turned populist.
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Igor Gräzin
- Occupations
- university teacherclericlawyerpoliticianphilosopher of law
- Biography
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Igor Gräzin (birth name: Russian: Игорь Николаевич Грязин, romanized: Igor Nikolayevich Gryazin (born 27 June 1952 in Tartu) is an Estonian academic and politician currently serving as a member of the Tallinn City Council. He is a former member of Riigikogu and former Member of the European Parliament. Currently sitting as an independent city councillor, he was former affiliated with the Reform Party until 2019 and the Centre Party until 2024.
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Mihkel Mutt
- Occupations
- theatre criticliterary criticwriter
- Biography
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Mihkel Mutt a/k/a Muti Miki is an Estonian writer, essayist, columnist and editor.
