Tallinn — Estonian Parliament adopts “Statement in Defence of Tibetan Children” by Large Majority, on February 11,2026, in the Estonian Parliament, Riigikogu. Which “condemns China’s assimilation policy and the Tibetan boarding school system, which aims to eliminate the distinct linguistic, cultural and religious traditions of Tibetans and other minorities, such as the Uyghurs.
Juku-Kalle Raid, chair of the Tibet Support Group, and MPs Tõnis Lukas, Henn Põlluaas, Margit Sutrop and Anti Poolamets participated passionately in the discussion on the declaration, some of them becoming emotional when they spoke of the plight of Tibetan children, some as young as four, separated from their parents and forced to attend compulsory colonial boarding schools run by the Chinese Communist regime in Tibet. They spoke out strongly in favour of the motion.
The Estonian Parliament, Riigikogu, adopted a statement brought forward by the Tibet Support Group in Riigikogu, with 67 parliamentarians across the political spectrum voting in favour, with no opposing votes, on February 11, 2026.
According to Office of Tibet, London, The Tibet Support Group in Riigikogu is the largest group in the parliament with 24 members out of the House total of 101. In comparison, the Estonia-China Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Estonian Parliament consists of 14 members. "Not surprisingly, the Chinese Embassy in Estonia issued an official communication expressing strong dissatisfaction with and opposition to the adopted statement on Tibet," the office of Tibet said.
The Statement of the Riigikogu as following:
- condemns China’s assimilation policy and the Tibetan boarding school system, which aims to eliminate the distinct linguistic, cultural and religious traditions of Tibetans and other minorities, such as the Uyghurs;
- calls for the immediate abolition of the boarding school system and the practice of family separation for children in Tibet, and calls on the authorities of the People’s Republic of China to allow the establishment of private Tibetan schools;
- calls on countries and the European Commission to demand that the Government of the People’s Republic of China issue visas to European diplomats to visit boarding schools throughout Tibet and allow independent journalists and international observers to enter the region;
- calls on other national parliaments to adopt statements in defence of Tibetan children and to forward them to the institutions of the European Union, the United Nations and the Government and Parliament of the People’s Republic of China.
