Estonia appoints new ambassadors across diplomatic posts

Several Estonian ambassadors took up new posts at the beginning of August, including the ambassadors to the United States, Canada and NATO, ERR reported.

Hannes Hanso replaced Kristjan Prikk as Estonia’s ambassador to the United States, based in Washington. Hanso had served since 2022 as Estonia’s ambassador to China and also represented Estonia in Vietnam, Mongolia and Thailand.

Prikk, who had been ambassador to the United States since 2021, replaced Jüri Luik at Estonia’s representation to NATO.

Marje Luup became Estonia’s ambassador to Kazakhstan, based in Astana. The previous ambassador, Jaap Ora, resigned on December 9 last year after coming under criticism from Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna and Foreign Ministry Chancellor Jonatan Vseviov over President Alar Karis’s state visit to Kazakhstan. Ora has since legally challenged his dismissal.

Luup had previously served as Estonia’s ambassador to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Kristi Karelsohn replaced her in New Delhi.

Other ambassadorial changes included the following:

Gert Auväärt replaced Margus Rava as ambassador to Canada, based in Ottawa.

Tiina Intelmann replaced Annely Kolk as ambassador to Ukraine, based in Kyiv.

Piret Urb replaced Karin Rannu as ambassador to Albania, based in Athens.

Jana Vanamölder replaced Raul Toomas as ambassador to Hungary, based in Budapest.

Kairi Saar-Isop replaced Kairi Künka as ambassador to Ireland, based in Dublin.

Lembit Uibo replaced Andres Rundu as ambassador to Spain, based in Madrid.

Katrin Kivi replaced Moonika Kase as ambassador to Portugal, based in Lisbon.

Estonia also opened new embassies this year in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia; Chișinău, the capital of Moldova; Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan; Brasília, the capital of Brazil; and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya.

Kase, the former ambassador to Portugal, was appointed Estonia’s first ambassador to Brazil, based in Brasília. Tiina Nirk became ambassador to Azerbaijan, based in Baku, while Siiri Königsberg became ambassador to Moldova, based in Chișinău.

Some rotations are still pending. Daniel Erik Schaer will begin serving as Estonia’s ambassador to Kenya, based in Nairobi, on August 31.

The ambassadorial change in Latvia, based in Riga, will take place on December 1. Celia Kuningas-Saagpakk will take over from Eerik Marmei. Kuningas-Saagpakk had served as Estonia’s ambassador to the Holy See, based in Tallinn, and Minna-Liina Lind has replaced her in that post.