Serving as Estonia’s president from 2001 to 2006, Rüütel oversaw significant milestones, including the country’s accession to the European Union and NATO in 2004.
Estonia – Arnold Rüütel, former president of Estonia and a key figure in the country’s fight for independence, has died at the age of 96, according to an announcement from the president’s office.
Rüütel played a pivotal role in Estonia’s transition to independence from Soviet rule in 1991. A former communist party official during the late 1980s, he became a leading advocate for the Baltic nation’s sovereignty as the Soviet Union began to collapse.
Serving as Estonia’s president from 2001 to 2006, Rüütel oversaw significant milestones, including the country’s accession to the European Union and NATO in 2004.
“He was one of the leaders of our independence,” said a statement released by the Estonian presidency, highlighting his contributions to the nation’s freedom and integration into the Western political and security frameworks.
Rüütel’s legacy as a statesman and advocate for Estonia’s independence will remain a defining chapter in the country’s modern history.
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