16 Narva City Councillors Demand Answer from Ombudsman on Stalnukhin Blockade

16 Narva City Council members, a majority of the council, have appealed to Ombudsman Ülle Madise and Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta, demanding a clear legal assessment regarding the failure to process no-confidence motions filed against council chair Mikhail Stalnukhin. The councillors claim that the no-confidence motions have not been added to the agenda for over 100 days and that the council chair is blocking their proceedings. According to the signatories, the situation affects the adherence to democratic principles of local government across Estonia.

16 members of Narva City Council, representing a majority of the 31-member body, have issued an open letter to Ombudsman Ülle Madise and Justice and Digital Affairs Minister Liisa Pakosta, seeking a clear legal assessment regarding the failure to process no-confidence motions filed against City Council Chair Mikhail Stalnukhin.

Standoff lasts over 100 days

According to the councillors who signed the appeal, previously submitted no-confidence motions have not been withdrawn or put to a vote, but have also not been added to the agenda of council sessions. The next session is scheduled for 26 June 2026. Urbo Vaarmann, who coordinated the appeal, emphasised that the standoff in Narva has lasted over 100 days, during which councillors have sent numerous inquiries to various state institutions without receiving a concrete answer about whether a no-confidence vote is mandatory.

The councillors posed three fundamental questions to state institutions: whether the submitted no-confidence motions must be processed in accordance with the law, whether the council chair has the right to block this process, and whether the legally established procedure applies to the council chair himself.

"Silence is not a neutral position

Currently, it appears that Mikhail Stalnukhin can disregard the will of the council majority while state institutions limit themselves to observation and general clarifications. This situation cannot continue indefinitely," states the letter circulated by Vaarmann. "Silence on this matter is not a neutral position. Every day that a clear answer is lacking, the no-confidence motions remain unprocessed. Every day that an answer is delayed, the Narva City Council majority's legal right remains unexercised."

Vaarmann explained that the councillors are not asking the ombudsman or minister to decide who should lead Narva or to support their political position. "We are merely asking for a clear answer: whether the submitted no-confidence motions must be reviewed, whether the council chair can block this process, and whether the legally established procedure applies to Mikhail Stalnukhin himself. Personally, I am ready to put behind us this standoff that has lasted more than a hundred days and start with a clean slate, focusing on Narva's development. But for that to happen, there must be clarity that Narva operates under the same laws and democratic principles as the rest of Estonia," said Vaarmann.

Stalnukhin: actions are lawful

The last City Council session convened by Stalnukhin took place on 23 April 2026. Stalnukhin has repeatedly emphasised that his actions comply with current legislation and that decisions have been made based on legal assessments and the prevailing political situation.

According to the councillors who signed the appeal, the issue extends beyond internal tensions in Narva and concerns local government principles and the observance of democratic procedures across Estonia.