Lauri Vahtre
Lauri Vahtre (born 22 March 1960, in Tartu) is an Estonian politician, historian, translator and writer. Education and career. Lauri Vahtre graduated from Tartu Secondary School Nr 2 in 1978 and from Tartu University history department in 1984 (1988 PhD). From 1983 to 1985 he worked as a senior research fellow in the Estonian Open Air Museum, then continued his postgraduate studies. From 1988 to 1992 he worked as a senior researcher in the Institute of History of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, from 1989 to 1992 as a senior teacher at the Tartu University. As a historian , Lauri Vahtre is known as a populariser of history and a co-author of several schoolbooks. His research work has concentrated on the history of Estonian Bar Association and Soviet time mentality among other topics. 2015-2020 Vahtre lead a group of historians, creating 2-volume research "History of the Estonian War of Independence" which was published 2021. See: https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eesti_Vabadussõja_ajalugu Political career. Lauri Vahtre joined politics during the Singing Revolution together with his university mate Mart Laar. Just before graduation Vahtre was expelled from the Tartu State University because of his patriotic views and activities, so he had to complete  his studies as an extern. Together with Laar and other patriots they formed a political association, which in 1992 developed into a National Coalition Party "Pro Patria" (Rahvuslik Koonderakond "Isamaa"). Vahtre was a member of the Congress of Estonia and from 1991 to 1992 a member of the Constitutional Assembly. In 1992, as a result of the victory of Pro Patria in the national elections, Lauri Vahtre was elected member of the VII Riigikogu. He became one of the political leaders of the party and was re-elected to the parliament in 1995 and 1999. In 2003 the party faced  a loss in the parliamentary election and Vahtre did not get elected. He returned to the parliament again in 2007 and became a member of the parliamentary Committee on Cultural Affairs as well as the National Heritage Association. International activity. In the parliament Lauri Vahtre was a member of the Estonia-India Parliamentary Group as well as the Estonia-Croatia Parliamentary Group. He also belonged to the Taiwan and Tibet Support Groups. From 2001 to 2003 Lauri Vahtre was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. He was a rapporteur on Moldova (together with Josette Durrieu ). Awards. 3rd class Order of the National Coat of Arms (2001) Personal. Lauri Vahtre's father was the historian Sulev Vahtre. His brother is the artist Silver Vahtre. Membership in associations. Lauri Vahtre is a member of Estonian Students' Society, member of Isamaa.