Ministry and Heidi Jõks seek out-of-court settlement

The Estonian Ministry of Climate and Heidi Jõks are seeking an out-of-court settlement alongside their legal dispute over the leadership of the Estonian Museum of Natural History, ERR reported. If no agreement is reached, Jõks will continue challenging the results of the competition for the museum’s new director in court.

Karoli Noor, head of the ministry’s communications department, said one court hearing had taken place, during which the parties presented their positions. At the same time, they are seeking a settlement outside court.

“The ministry’s aim is to find a quick solution that would restore peace at the Museum of Natural History, allowing its employees to focus on preparations for opening the new museum,” Noor said.

Noor added that there were several possible legal compromises, but that both parties had to agree to one. Until the court decides otherwise, the result of the original competition remains officially valid, she said.

Jõks gave a brief response when asked about possible agreements, saying that the process was still under way.

“It is premature to talk about a compromise because this process is not yet at its final stage. If there is no compromise, the legal dispute will continue,” Jõks told ERR.

Jõks, who had led the Estonian Museum of Natural History for a long time, was not reappointed in the public competition held in July. She turned to the administrative court to annul the final decision and demand a new public competition.

Her contractual five-year term ends on November 30. She has led the museum for nearly 15 years in total.

Following the July competition, Riina Roosipuu, the former director of Tallinn TV Tower and Eesti Loto, was selected as the museum’s new director. The decision drew criticism from museum circles.

The administrative court imposed interim legal protection in the case, suspending the validity of the final decision on the appointment of the new director until September 23. This means the ministry cannot sign an employment contract with Roosipuu before that date. Jõks’s representative has applied for the protection to be extended.