Meelis Oidsalu: Elmar Vaher's Peculiar Interview Raises Questions

Focus editor Meelis Oidsalu analyses an interview given to Estonian Ekspress journalist Madis Hinder by Elmar Vaher. Oidsalu believes the interview gives the impression that a leader was not selected for RKIK so much as someone whose mission is to expose corruption in the defence sector.

Focus journalism portal's "Power and Security" editor Meelis Oidsalu writes that the recently given interview of Elmar Vaher to Estonian Ekspress journalist Madis Hinder raises more questions than it provides answers.

According to Oidsalu, the interview creates a strong impression that a new leader was not selected for the State Defence Investment Centre (RKIK) in the conventional sense, but rather someone whose primary task would be to thoroughly examine the organisation. The interview suggests that the new director intends to hire additional investigators and aim to identify defence corruption — corruption that Oidsalu believes has been successfully concealed so far.

The Question of Leadership Role

Oidsalu does not directly claim that Vaher's intentions are misguided; rather, he raises a question about management philosophy. Does the organisation primarily need a strong leader capable of fulfilling RKIK's core duties, namely organising defence-related investments and procurements, or someone whose focus is directed at investigating past actions?

Such an emphasis is, in the commentator's view, at least surprising, considering that Estonia's defence capabilities must be significantly strengthened in the coming years, and RKIK has a very important role to play in this.

Corruption in the Defence Sector

The issue of corruption in the defence sector has recently been under sharp scrutiny in Estonia. Oidsalu hints that the problems have not been random or small-scale; their systematic concealment has enabled them to remain hidden for long.

In this context, Vaher's statements can also be understood as a desire to signal to society that the new leadership does not intend to keep quiet about the questionable dealings of previous periods. However, Oidsalu asks whether this should really be the primary priority of RKIK's director.