Lauri Vahtre (born 22 March 1960) is an

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also

...

politician, historian, translator and writer.

Education and career

Lauri Vahtre was born in

Tartu Tartu is the second largest city in Estonia after Tallinn. Tartu has a population of 97,759 (as of 2024). It is southeast of Tallinn and 245 kilometres (152 miles) northeast of Riga, Latvia. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the ...

. He graduated from Tartu Secondary School Nr 2 in 1978 and from

Tartu University The University of Tartu (UT; ; ) is a Public university, public research university located in the city of Tartu, Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is also the largest and oldest university in the country.Estonian Open Air Museum The Estonian Open Air Museum ( Estonian: ''Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum'') is a life-sized reconstruction of an 18th-19th century rural/fishing village, which includes church, tavern, schoolhouse, several mills, a fire station, twelve farmyards and net ...

, then continued his postgraduate studies. From 1988 to 1992 he worked as a senior researcher in the Institute of History of the

Estonian Academy of Sciences Founded in 1938, the Estonian Academy of Sciences (, ) is Estonia's national academy of science in Tallinn. As with other national academies, it is an independent group of well-known scientists whose stated aim is to promote research and develo ...

, from 1989 to 1992 as a senior teacher at the

Political career

Lauri Vahtre joined politics during the

Singing Revolution The Singing Revolution was a series of events from 1987 to 1991 that led to the restoration of independence of the three Soviet-occupied Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania at the end of the Cold War. The term was coined by a ...

together with his university mate

Mart Laar Mart Laar (born 22 April 1960) is an Estonian politician and historian. He served as the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. Laar is credited with having helped bring about Estonia's Economy_of_Estonia#Restoration_o ...

. Just before graduation Vahtre was expelled from the Tartu State University because of his patriotic views and activities, so he had to complete his studies as an extern. Together with Laar and other patriots they formed a political association, which in 1992 developed into a National Coalition Party "Pro Patria" (Rahvuslik Koonderakond "Isamaa"). Vahtre was a member of the

Congress of Estonia The Congress of Estonia (Estonian: ''Eesti Kongress'') was a grassroots parliament elected in February 1990 in then Soviet-occupied Estonia and actively participating in the popular nonviolent resistance to the Soviet rule, which resulted in the ...

and from 1991 to 1992 a member of the Constitutional Assembly. In 1992, as a result of the victory of Pro Patria in the national elections, Lauri Vahtre was elected member of the VII

Riigikogu The Riigikogu (, from Estonian ''riigi-'', "of the state", and ''kogu'', "assembly") is the unicameral parliament of Estonia. In addition to approving legislation, the Parliament appoints high officials, including the prime minister and chi ...

. He became one of the political leaders of the party and was re-elected to the parliament in 1995 and 1999. In 2003 the party faced a loss in the parliamentary election and Vahtre did not get elected. He returned to the parliament again in 2007 and became a member of the parliamentary Committee on Cultural Affairs as well as the National Heritage Association.

International activity

In the parliament Lauri Vahtre was a member of the Estonia-India Parliamentary Group as well as the Estonia-Croatia Parliamentary Group. He also belonged to the Taiwan and Tibet Support Groups. From 2001 to 2003 Lauri Vahtre was a member of the

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) is the parliamentary arm of the Council of Europe, a 46-nation international organisation dedicated to upholding human rights, democracy and the rule of law. The Assembly is made up of ...

. He was a rapporteur on Moldova (together with Josette Durrieu).

Awards

3rd class Order of the National Coat of Arms (2001)

Personal

Lauri Vahtre's father was the historian Sulev Vahtre. His brother is the artist Silver Vahtre.

Membership in associations

Lauri Vahtre is a member of

Estonian Students' Society The Estonian Students' Society (; commonly used acronym: EÜS) is the largest and oldest all-male academical student society in Estonia, and is similar to the Baltic Germans, Baltic German student organizations known as German Student Corps, c ...

, member of

Isamaa Isamaa () is a Christian democratic and national conservative political party in Estonia. It was founded on 4 June 2006 under the name of "Pro Patria and Res Publica Union", by the merger of two conservative parties, Pro Patria Union and Res ...

Books (selection)

*Torm, Varrak 2010, *Absurdi impeerium, Tammerraamat 2007, *Ajaloo pööripäevad (vol 2), Tammerraamat 2007, *Ajaloo pööripäevad, Tammerraamat 2006, *Eesti Advokatuuri ajalugu 1919–1994, Tallinn 2005, *Eesti rahva lugu, Ilo 2005, *Suur pettumus, Varrak 2002, *Eesti kultuuri ajalugu. Lühiülevaade, Virgela 2000, *Eestlase aeg, Varrak 2000, *Meenutusi kadunud maailmast, ehk, Keskkoolist, ülikoolist, matkadest, malevast, väljakaevamistest ja muust aastail 1975–1984", Tallinn 1999, *Teine lugemine, Virgela 1998,

Published in English

*''Empire of the absurd: a brief history of the absurdities of the Soviet Union'' / foreword by Mart Laar ; ranslation from Estonian: Tarmo Heyduck Ontario, 2010. 201 pages. . This book is dedicated to probably the greatest flowering of man-made absurdity in history - The Soviet Union *''Estonian home'' / hotos:Henri van Noordenburg ; text by Lauri Vahtre ; esign: Piia Ruber allinn: Eesti Instituut, 2008 ( allinn : Folger Art 44 pages. *''Humanism vs humanity'' / translated by Enn Veldi. Tallinn : Grenader, 2008. 163 pages. Original title: Suur pettumus ehk inimene, ühiskond ja inimõigused. *''Republic of Estonia 90'' / ext of the exhibition catalogue: Lauri Vahtre ; graphic design: Angelika Schneider allinn : Eesti Instituut, 2008 48 pages. *''Good old Swedish era – how long did it last and how good was it really?'' // Life in Estonia, Summer 2008, pages 18–22. Article bout the historical period between 1561–1710, when Estonia was part of the Kingdom of Sweden. *''The Red Book of the Peoples of the Russian Empire'' / 1993 / Eesti Keele Institute/Institute of the Estonian Language / Consultants: Ants Viires and Lauri Vahtre / Edited by Andrew Humpries and Krista Mits;

Translations from English

*McLynn, Frank. Napoleon. Tallinn, Varrak, 2002, *Quinton, Anthony. Hume. Tallinn, Varrak, 2000, *Ayers, Michael. Locke. Tallinn, Varrak, 2000, *Tanner, Michael. Schopenhauer. Tallinn, Varrak, 2000, *Berman, David. Berkeley. Tallinn, Varrak, 2000, *Hughes, Lindsey. Peeter Suur (Peter the Great). Tallinn, Varrak 2005, *Cornwell, Bernard. Sharpe (three volumes). Tallinn, Varrak 1998, , ,

Films

*''

Detsembrikuumus ''December Heat'' () is a 2008 historic action drama film about the 1924 Estonian coup d'état attempt directed by Asko Kase and starring Sergo Vares and Liisi Koikson. Plot "December 1924. It's only a matter of minutes whether Estonian young in ...

'' (''December Heat'') : rama : video/ director: Asko Kase; written by: Lauri Vahtre, Mihkel Ulman. Tallinn: Home Entertainment Group (distributor), 2009. DVD. *''

Tuulepealne maa ''Tuulepealne maa'' ("Windward Land") is a twelve-part Estonian television mini-series about the pre-World War II history of Estonia, its birth as a country, the Estonian War of Independence, post-war life throughout 1920 up to 1941 and World ...

'' (''Windward Land'') : 2 episodes : drama : video/ director:

Ain Prosa Ain Prosa (born 7 October 1967 in Räpina) is an Estonia Estonia, officially the Republic of Estonia, is a country in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea across ...

; written by: Mihkel Ulman, Lauri Vahtre. Tallinn: Sonatiin (distributor) : BEC, 2008.

References

External links

Lauri Vahtre at Isamaa ja Res Publica Liit

Lauri Vahtre at Riigikogu
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vahtre, Lauri 1960 births Living people Writers from Tartu Politicians from Tartu Pro Patria Union politicians Isamaa politicians Members of the Riigikogu, 1992–1995 Members of the Riigikogu, 1999–2003 Members of the Riigikogu, 2007–2011 Members of the Riigikogu, 2011–2015 20th-century Estonian historians Historians of Estonia Miina Härma Gymnasium alumni University of Tartu alumni Recipients of the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class Members of the Riigikogu, 1995–1999 21st-century Estonian historians