Riigisaladus

Riigisaladus, or "state secret," is a designation for information whose disclosure could harm Estonia's national security, defense, foreign policy, or other vital state interests. The protection of riigisaladus aims to ensure that sensitive data remains accessible only to qualified persons and only for legitimate purposes. Exposed or mishandled information can threaten public safety, strategic interests, or international relations.

Riigisaladused cover documents, communications, data, and other materials related to defense, intelligence, critical infrastructure, and diplomacy. They are classified at different levels of secrecy, with access restricted to individuals who hold the appropriate clearance and a legitimate need to know. Classification and declassification follow formal procedures defined by law.

The state secrets regime in Estonia is regulated by the Riigisaladuste seadus and related legislation. These rules describe how information is marked, stored, transmitted, and eventually declassified, as well as the responsibilities of custodians and users. Unauthorized disclosure or mishandling can lead to criminal liability, disciplinary action, and other penalties.

Declassification can occur after a set period or when the information no longer meets secrecy criteria, subject to oversight by security authorities. The system seeks to balance national security with transparency and accountability, a balance that is often debated in public discourse and governance.