Arnold Rüütel, celebrated as one of the architects of Estonia’s independence in 1991, has passed away at the age of 96, according to a statement from the president’s office.
Rüütel, a communist party official during the late 1980s as the Soviet Union began to collapse, played a pivotal role in Estonia’s fight to reclaim its sovereignty after five decades of Soviet rule.
During his presidency from 2001 to 2006, Rüütel was instrumental in Estonia’s historic 2004 entry into both the European Union and NATO.
“He was one of the leaders of our independence,” read the statement from Estonia’s presidential office, honoring his legacy.
