Earlier Prosecutor Generals and the history of the Prosecutor’s Office

On November 11, 1918, the Estonian Provisional Government was established. The regulation on establishing provisional courts, adopted on November 18, 1918, created the foundation for the Prosecutor’s Office. The position of the Prosecutor of the Republic of Estonia was created under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Courts. A decision of the Provisional Government assigned Jaan Teemant as the Prosecutor of the Republic of Estonia; he remained in that position until May 8, 1919.

Prosecutor of the Republic of Estonia in 1918-1920

Jaan Teemant

Aleksander Hellat

Lui Olesk

Alfred Maurer

In April 1920, the position of the Prosecutor of the Republic was abolished and the separate bodies of the Prosecutor’s Office at the Chamber of Justice and the Prosecutor’s Office at the Supreme Court were established.

The Prosecutor’s Office at the Supreme Court was mainly tasked with protecting lawfulness and expressing opinions. The Prosecutor’s Office at the Chamber of Justice had the tasks of presenting charges and supporting thereof. The Prosecutor’s Office at the Supreme Court acted as a prosecutor’s office in principle only in cases where the Supreme Court was solving a specific court case.

Prosecutor of the Supreme Court in 1920-1940

Richard Räägo

Johan Müller

Prosecutor of the Chamber of Justice in 1920-1940

Erich Eek

Paul Peterson

Paul Välbe

Johan Müller

Albert Assor

Johan Müller

Gustav Avald

Johannes Mardi

In 1940, the Soviet authorities eliminated the courts of the Republic of Estonia and the prosecutor’s offices at those courts, and on October 23, 1940, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Estonian SSR was established.

With the decision of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia from August 27, 1991 “Of separating the Prosecutor’s Office the Republic of Estonia from the Prosecutor’s Office of the Soviet Union”, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Estonia was established.

Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Estonia in 1991-1993

Prosecutor General Leo Urge

On February 25, 1993, the Riigikogu adopted the Prosecutor’s Office Act which established the current structure of the Prosecutor’s Office.

Prosecutor Generals since 1993

Indrek Meelak

Alar Kirs, acting in the position

Raivo Sepp

Jüri Pihl

Norman Aas

Lavly Perling