Yeltsin’s successor killed in front of Kremlin

Boris Nemtsov, former governor of the Nizhny Novgorod region, the first Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, and the long-time possible successor to Boris Yeltsin, was killed in front of the Kremlin. The latter was an honour he never received because the Federal Security Services (FSB) recorded conversations where he spoke poorly of Yeltsin. Instead, Vladimir Putin became Yeltsin’s successor. Nemtsov was supported by billionaire Vladimir Potanin (Norilsk Nickel), who is also a former Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. Nemtsov was also a billionaire in Russian roubles.He was a man of action. After that, when Nemtsov distributed copies of his book “Putin:” The Final Result" in Triumfalnaya Square, the result was a “monkey cage”. Putin became President and Nemtsov received a “monkey cage”. Nemtsov’s private life was also the subject of a great deal of attention. Nemtsov was of Jewish heritage and he enjoyed spending time in Israel. His weakness was young women, which is why he also has illegitimate children in addition to the children from his legal marriage. Nemtsov was able to remain a politician during the reign of Putin. He ran for Mayor of Sochi. He was last elected to the Yaroslavl Oblast Duma. I met Nemtsov personally in 2003, when he gave a lecture in Tallinn; I was contacted, and I invited him to visit the Tallinn City Government (photo). Namely, I organised a personal meeting for him with Edgar Savisaar. On a Sunday morning, we held a reception for him on the third floor of the Tallinn City Government. An unexpectedly amazing, emotional politician – whose friends included many world leaders – he spent an hour with us. He spoke sincerely and broadly and was truly similar to Yeltsin. But at the same time, I would say that I am not surprised at his current twist of fate.

The Port in the town of Mustvee earned the deed of the year award

Within the framework of the competition “Jõgeva County Recognises 2014” the jury selected the deed of the year – the completion of the Mustvee port terminal in the capital of Lake Peipus – which was supported by the Mustvee City Government.

“This is an acknowledgement of all the people of the capital of Lake Peipus and the good teamwork in the Mustvee City Government and the City Council. Estonia’s eastern sea must develop quickly, since it is no longer only a gateway to Estonia, but to the entire European Union,” believes Mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur.At the end of 2014, a new port building of modern architectural design had been completed, the main wharf had been renovated, and a new boat harbour built. The new pier is 168 metres in length and has room alongside for landing nearly 30 boats. In the new two-storey port terminal, the Mustvee city government has set aside rooms for the harbour master as well as the Environmental Inspectorate. The construction of the Mustvee Port cost nearly EUR 1.1 million. Slightly more than EUR 1 million came from the European Union, via the Estonia-Latvia-Russia cross border cooperation Programme «Economically and environmentally sustainable Lake Peipus area». Vessel traffic took place at the Mustvee passenger port during the tsarist-era and during the era of the first Republic of Estonia. During the Soviet-era, hydrofoils could also be found at Mustvee. The goal of the competition “Jõgeva County Recognises 2014” is to recognise important deeds that have affected the county’s development. Awards will be presented on 21 February, at the festive reception dedicated to the 97th anniversary of Estonia’s independence.

Major U.S. exhibition in Mustvee, the capital of Peipus

On 2 February 2015, the Embassy of the United States, in cooperation with the Mustvee Cultural Centre, opened the major exhibition “Picturing America”. On display are 40 pictures in the form of works of art and historical events, providing an introduction to America.

“Without a doubt the United States cultural exhibition is an important event in the history of the capital of Peipus. At the Mustvee Cultural Centre, one can see a cross-section of U.S. history through art. Taking into consideration that the capital of Lake Peipus is bilingual, tri-cultural and home to five churches, then this diverse U.S. cultural heritage is of great interest to us. We must keep in mind that Estonia, the European Union and western culture all begin on the shores of Estonia’s eastern sea,” said Mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur.

Last year, on 3 December 2014, an historical event took place in the capital of Peipus, when Mustvee was visited by United States Ambassador Jeffrey D. Levine, along with other U.S. diplomats from the world’s only superpower. 

“The visit by the U.S. Ambassador was an important event for the town of Mustvee, since the people living along the shores of Lake Peipus are hoping for strong cooperation with the United States to improve their quality of life. The completion of the Mustvee passenger port will significantly alter the status of the town. The capital of Lake Peipus is developing much more intensively than at any other point in its 500 year history,” noted Mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur.

During his visit, the Ambassador paid a visit to the Mustvee Russian Upper Secondary School. In the Mustvee Cultural Centre, which was renovated with the help of European Union funds, the Ambassador visited the Heino Lubja Museum of Scales and Balances. The Ambassador also inspected the new Mustvee passenger port, financed by the European Union. The Ambassador also reviewed the situation along the Mustvee Border Guard cordon, on the shores of Estonia’s eastern sea.

Passenger port opened on the eastern border of the European Union

On 18 December 2014, on the eastern border of the European Union, in Estonia, in the town of Mustvee, on the shores of Peipus, a passenger port was opened. 

Prior to that, the town of Mustvee was visited on 3 December 2014, by U.S. Ambassador to Estonia Jeffrey D. Levine (pictured). In addition to visiting the Mustvee passenger port, the U.S. Ambassador and Max Kaur, the Mayor of Mustvee, also reviewed the state of affairs along the eastern border in the Mustvee Border Guard cordon.

“The visit by the U.S. Ambassador was an important event for the town of Mustvee, since the people living along the shores of Peipus are hoping for strong cooperation with the United States of America in order to help improve their quality of life. Mustvee is the starting point of not only Estonia, but also the European Union. The completion of the Mustvee passenger port will significantly alter the status of the town. The capital of Peipus is developing more intensively than at any other point in its 500 year history,” noted the Mayor of Mustvee, Max Kaur.

Construction of the new passenger port in Mustvee, the capital of Peipus, began in 2013. By the end of 2014, a new port building of modern architectural design had been completed, the main wharf had been renovated, and a new boat harbour built. The new pier is 168 metres in length and there is room alongside for landing nearly 30 boats. In the new two-storey port terminal, the Mustvee city government has set aside rooms for the harbour master as well as the Environmental Inspectorate.

Vessel traffic took place at the Mustvee passenger port during the tsarist-era and during the era of the first Republic of Estonia. During the Soviet-era, hydrofoils could also found at Mustvee.

First-time candidate for the Riigikogu

The age of 45 is the right time for an experienced statesman to seriously begin contemplating the future, the development of the city, county and the entire country, and it is the reason why I have decided to seek election to the Riigikogu. The development of Tartu and Jõgeva counties is important to me, and as the Mayor of Mustvee, the capital of Peipsi, I know what must be done at the national level to benefit the entire region.

On 9 December 2014, I will be celebrating my 45th birthday. A year ago, on 5 December 2013, the voters of Mustvee elected me to a second term as Mayor. It is true that my 45th birthday is not an anniversary; even so, it is an important date on the road to eternity, something that everyone values and celebrates. This year also saw the completion of my postgraduate degree. According to the Bologna classification, I am now a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

I have celebrated my birthday in London, Paris, Moscow, and St. Petersburg. The last few years I have celebrated my birthday in my beloved Mustvee, the capital of Peipsi.

The USA Ambassador to Estonia visits the so-called capital of Peipus, Mustvee

On Wednesday, 3 December 2014 Mustvee is visited by the United States Ambassador to Estonia Jeffrey D. Levine along with other US diplomats. The Ambassador has plans to meet the city government, the mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur and chairman of the city council Riina Pajula.

“A visit by the United States Ambassador is very important for Mustvee, because the people living by Peipus hope for strong cooperation with the USA to improve the quality of their lives. Mustvee is not only the starting point of Estonia, but also the entire European Union. The completion of the Mustvee passenger port will considerably change the city’s status. The development of the capital of Peipus is now more intense than ever before in its 500-year history,” said the mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur. Ambassador will be visiting the Russian upper secondary school of Mustvee and taking part in a lesson. He will also visit the weighing museum in the Mustvee cultural centre, which was renovated with European Union funds, and the new Mustvee passenger port, which was also financed by the European Union, and consider the options of economic development in the region. In addition, the Ambassador will visit the Orthodox Church of Saint Nicholas and the Raja Old Believers’ Church. He will also get an overview of the situation on the Estonian eastern border in the Mustvee checkpoint, on the shore of Estonia’s “Eastern Sea”.

Maestro Nikas Safronov conveyed the cordial greetings to the first lady of Estonia

Last weekend in Moscow, in a popular Club-Café „Masterskaya", an exclusive master class of the famous painter, the corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Arts Nikas Safronov was held, during which he met with Estonian politicians, the Mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur and Deputy Nikolai Degtjarenko.

The Maestro remembered with warm words the Baltic States, including Estonia, and his successful exhibitions in Tallinn. The conversation was about his famous painting, the portrait of the first lady of Estonia Evelin Ilves. On this occasion, Nikas Safronov paid tribute to femininity and beauty of Mrs Ilves and asked to convey her cordial greetings.

During the master class, the honoured painter developed a creative idea to paint a portrait of the legendary Prime Minister of Estonia and Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar. The Estonian politicians supported this interesting idea, which will undoubtedly complement the rich collection of outstanding people portrayed by the Maestro.

The painter gave the Estonian politicians reproductions of the finest of his works for the year 2014. Max Kaur and Nikolai Degtjarenko invited Nikas Safronov to host next year an exhibition in Tallinn together with young and talented painting artists of Estonia.

Safronov has painted portraits of many politicians and public figures, artists of show business. The event was a part of a research and educational project of the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund.

Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov awarded doctor’s degrees to Estonian politicians

This week, in the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management, the Candidate of Economic Sciences diplomas were issued to Mayor of Mustvee Max Kaur and Deputy of the Maardu City Council Nikolai Degtjarenko, with a famous politician and businessman Mikhail Prokhorov taking part in the ceremony.
According to Professor Kalinin, one of the directors of the Skolkovo science centre, the primary goal of today’s science is optimum use of young scientists for effective resolution of economic crises.
Kaur and Degtjarenko defended their theses of Candidates of Economic Sciences (according to the European classification - Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)) at the meeting of the Thesis Council of the Saint Petersburg State University of Economics at the end of 2013. The decision to award the respective degrees was made by the State Commission for Academic Degrees and Titles and approved by the order of the Minister of Education and Science of the Russian Federation of 19 May and 7 July this year.
The Skolkovo science centre “The Russian Silicon Valley” is a modern science and technology innovation complex for development and commercialisation of new technologies. Some of the famous lecturers of Skolkovo include Governor and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Secretary of State and presidential candidate of the Republican Party of the USA Condoleezza Rice.
The ceremony took place within the framework of the science and development project of the Gorchakov Fund for Public Diplomacy. Diplomat and statesman Alexander Gorchakov is directly related to Estonia, as he was born in Haapsalu. Mikhail Prokhorov is one of the patrons of the Gorchakov Fund for Public Diplomacy.
Photo: Nikolai Degtjarenko, Mikhail Prokhorov and Max Kaur after awarding of the doctor’s degrees. 

Max Kaur holds the post of Mustvee mayor

Max Kaur was elected the Mayor of Mustvee on 5 December 2013 by the Mustvee City Council. This is the second time Max Kaur is elected as the Mayor of Peipus' capital Mustvee. Earlier he worked as a Counsel to the Mayor of Tallinn, a Vice-Mayor of Maardu and as a deputy of VII Tallinn City Council.

Max Kaur story

Max Kaur is an Estonian Centre Party politician. He is the current Mayor of Mustvee. Max Kaur was counsellor of the Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar 2002-2005. He was Vice-mayor of Maardu 2005-2006. Max Kaur was first elected to Tallinn City Council in the Estonian local elections 2009. He was elected Mayor of Mustvee in April 2013. He was re-elected in December 2013.

He was a founder and leader of the Estonian social movement against gambling. He is an author of the idea to create a unique sculpture in the world against addictions in Tallinn.

Max Kaur studied law at Moscow International Independent University of Environmental and Political Sciences (IIUEPS), LL.B., and economics at Saint Petersburg State University of Engineering and Economics, MS in Economics. He earned his PhD in 2013 from Saint Petersburg State University of Economics.