ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part examines the legal status of Russians directly on the basis of ethnic categories. It discusses the legal status of Russians in the legislation of Estonian privatization. In addition it can be mentioned that - even though Estonian privatization legislation is the object of investigation - in the period before the Estonian independence in August 1991 there was ‘double regulation’ in certain areas because Estonia was a Soviet Republic and therefore placed under Soviet legislation. However, both laws also had implications concerning the economic activities of the non-Estonians and in a longer perspective non-Estonian participation in privatization. Common to all privatization legislation was that, apart from some exceptions, it largely favoured Estonians in comparison with non-Estonians. Nationality legislation signified that the consequences of privatization in regard to the legislation would take a different shape for non-Estonians than for Estonians.
