Jüri Adams

Jüri Adams (born 22 November 1947) is an Estonian politician. He formerly was the Justice Minister of Estonia from 1994 to 1995. He has been a member of numerous political parties, including the Estonian National Independence Party, Pro Patria Union, and later the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union. From 2014 to 2019, he was a member of the Estonian Free Party and a member of the Riigikogu.

Jüri Adams
Jüri Adams in 2015
Minister of Justice
In office 8 November 1994 – 17 April 1995
Prime Minister	Andres Tarand
Preceded by	Urmas Arumäe
Succeeded by	Paul Varul
Personal details
Born	(1947-11-22) 22 November 1947 (age 77) Tartu, Estonia
Political party	Estonian Free Party

Education and career

Adams graduated from the Tartu Distance Learning Secondary School in 1966, studied mathematics at Moscow State University, and English philology at the University of Tartu. He graduated from Luua Metsanduskool with a degree in forestry machinery in 1982.

Adams has worked, among other things, as a teacher, forest warden, and boiler-maker.^[1]

Political career

Adams delivering a speech on the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Estonian Constitution in Kadriorg, Tallinn on 28 June 2012.

In the time before Estonia regained its independence, Adams participated in the Estonian resistance movement and in the underground in the free press.^[2] Among other things, he translated the secret protocols of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact into Estonian. In 1978, he founded the magazine "Additions to the Freedom of Thoughts and News in Estonia". In 1988, Adams was one of the founders of the program and articles of association of the Estonian National Independence Party, and then the vice chairman of the party. From 1990 to 1992, he was the vice chairman of the Estonian Congress.

Adams was a member of the Constitutional Assembly. He is considered to be the main author of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia.^[2] From 1992 to 2003, and again from 2015 onwards, he has been a member of the Riigikogu, where he was chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs.

From 1994 to 1995, Adams was the Justice Minister of Estonia under prime minister Andres Tarand.^[2] However, from 2003 to 2014, he did not participate in active political activities. Adams is one of the founders of the Jaan Tõnisson Institute and, since 2007, has been the chairman of their council.^[3]

Awards

• 2001: 3rd Class of the Estonian Order of the National Coat of Arms (received 23 February 2001)^[4]
• 2006: 2nd Class of the Order of the White Star (received 14 September 2007)^[5]

Personal life

Adams is the son of writer and literary scholar Valmar Adams.^[1]

Bibliography

• "Taasvabanenud Eesti põhiseaduse eellugu", Kirjastus Juura, 1997, ISBN 9985-8225-9-5
• "Keda me valisime 1995?", AS Liivimaa Lombard, 1995

External links

• "Jüri Adams: kõike pole põhiseadusesse vaja kirjutada" Eesti Päevaleht, 18 June 2010
• Priit Simson: "Jüri Adams: katsuge mitte suruda asju põranda alla" Eesti Päevaleht, 5 February 2011
• Teet Korsten: "Jüri Adams: realistlik-pessimistlikult Putini-Venemaa perspektiividest" Sirp, 28 July 2017