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RASK represents hunting clubs in complex dispute with Ministry of the Environment.

Case

RASK represented the hunting clubs from Lääne county, Viljandi county and Jõgeva county in a dispute with the Ministry of the Environment and the Environmental Board on amendments to the new Hunting Act. The dispute ended with great success for the hunters as the authorites agreed with the hunters in all matters of importance for them already before the court proceedings.

The dispute was related to the proceedings for the new Hunting Act commenced by the parliament of Estonia in December 2012, which caused considerable media coverage and public discussion. The Ministry of the Environment, the Environmental Board and many top politicians announced before the adoption of the new Hunting Act that from 1 March 2013, approximately one-third of the unreformed hunting grounds (leased hunting grounds) would lose their legal status and permits for these hunting grounds would become invalid.