Close to 40 radio stations operate throughout the country, of which five are state-owned. Dozens of privately run national and regional newspapers offer diverse viewpoints. Religious freedom is respected in law and practice in this predominantly Lutheran country. The constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, and the government respects this provision in practice. Political parties are allowed to organize freely, although only citizens may be members.
Workers have the right to organize freely, to strike, and to bargain collectively.
One-third of the country s labor force belongs to one of the three main trade union organizations, which are independent of the state. The judiciary is independent and judges may not hold any other elected or appointed office. There have been credible reports that some police officers use excessive force and verbal abuse during the arrest and questioning of suspects. Despite recent improvements in the country s prison system, overcrowding and a lack of financial resources and adequately trained staff remain a problem. Of Estonia s population of just under 1.5 million, more than 1 million are Estonian citizens, of which approximately 110,000 have been naturalized since 1992.