Education and Science, Estonia, Legislation

According to sworn advocate Leonid Tolstov, who represented the university in the labor dispute committee, the university must first inspect the decision thoroughly but it can already be said that the university will appeal the decision, spokespeople for the university said.

"The labor dispute committee has broadly identified that the events, which were the matter of the dispute, have taken place," Tolstov said. "We will remain of a different opinion than the committee when it comes to the assessments given to the events and will definitely contest the decision as it is inconsistent with the values of the university," he added.

Tolstov said that the decision creates a precedent that in the future may affect the labor culture in Estonian society as a whole. The university has acted correctly by thoroughly investigating the circumstances and collegially making the decision to terminate the employment contract," he said.

The university has 30 days to appeal the committee's decision.

The labor dispute committee has decided to satisfy the complaint of Martin Hallik, former director of the library of the University of Tartu, against the university, declared the dismissal null and void and ordered the university to pay a large financial compensation to Hallik.

Hallik told the regional Tartu Postimees that the compensation is significantly over 100,000 euros, but below 200,000 euros. Kristi Sild, the sworn advocate representing Hallik, refused to disclose the exact sum to LETA/BNS, citing a closed proceeding.

According to Sild, the labor dispute committee's decision confirmed that Martin Hallik has not behaved in an undignified or untrustworthy manner. "The University of Tartu fired on the spot a person, who in an exemplary manner had worked for the university for approximately 20 years, without having carried out an unbiased and thorough analysis first. It was determined during the procedure that the appellant has hid from the University of Tartu significant circumstances and has lied. The entire dismissal process was lacking, the result of which was the baseless termination of the employment contract," Sild said.

Since the incident, Hallik has affirmed that the behavior of the University of Tartu and its Vice Rector for Research Kristjan Vassil in Hallik's dismissal was unfair. "This has also finally received an unbiased assessment from the labor dispute committee. I have not behaved in an undignified manner. I sincerely hope that the University of Tartu has the dignity and bravery to admit that my dismissal was wrong in both content and form. I also hope that the University of Tartu will stop further hostility toward me," Hallik said.