Lennart Meri was a writer and documentary filmmaker who became the face of the restored republic. As foreign minister he rebuilt Estonia's diplomacy from nothing, and as president for nine years he secured the withdrawal of Russian troops and set the country firmly on its way to the European Union and NATO.
LM
II · Second President of the Republic
Lennart Meri
Writer, filmmaker and foreign minister. Served two terms as the first head of state after independence was restored.
- In office
- 6 October 1992 – 8 October 2001 · Two terms
- Lived
- 29 March 1929 – 14 March 2006
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Biography
At a glance
- Born
- 29 March 1929, Tallinn
- Died
- 14 March 2006, Tallinn
- Parents
- Georg Meri, diplomat and translator of Shakespeare; Alice-Brigitta Engmann
- Spouses
- Regina Ojavere (1953–1982); Helle Meri (from 1992)
- Children
- Mart, Kristjan and Tuule
- Profession
- Writer, film director, diplomat
Education
- Schools abroad, where his father served as a diplomat, including the Lycée Janson de Sailly in Paris
- Deported with his family to Siberia in 1941; returned to Estonia after the war
- University of Tartu, history, graduated cum laude in 1953
- Honorary doctorate, University of Helsinki, 1986
Career
- 1950sDramatist at the Vanemuine theatre in Tartu
- 1950sWriter of radio plays for Estonian Radio
- 1963Member of the Writers' Union
- 1960s–1980sTravel writer and documentary film director, recording the Finno-Ugric peoples and the history of the Baltic
- 1988Founded the Estonian Institute and helped found the Popular Front
- 1990–1992Minister of Foreign Affairs. Co-founded the Council of the Baltic Sea States and the EuroFaculty
- 1992Ambassador to Finland
Presidency
- In the popular vote of September 1992 Arnold Rüütel led with 42 per cent and Meri followed with 29 per cent. With no majority, the Riigikogu chose, and elected Meri.
- Took office on 6 October 1992. Re-elected by the electoral college on 20 September 1996.
- Negotiated with President Yeltsin the withdrawal of Russian troops, completed on 31 August 1994.
- In a speech in Hamburg on 25 February 1994 warned Europe against Russia's claim to a sphere of influence over its neighbours.
- Set the course for membership of the European Union and NATO, both achieved soon after his terms.
In their words
The death of communism is being proclaimed from the rooftops, but no one has yet seen a corpse.
Books and works
- 1964Tulemägede maale
To the Land of Fire Mountains, travel writing - 1974Virmaliste väraval
At the Gate of the Northern Lights, travel writing - 1976Hõbevalge
Silverwhite, a history of the Baltic told through travellers' accounts; English translation by Adam Cullen, 2025 - 1977Lähenevad rannad
Approaching Shores - 1977Linnutee tuuled
The Winds of the Milky Way, documentary film; silver medal at the New York Film Festival - 1984Hõbevalgem
Silverwhiter, the sequel to Hõbevalge - 2000Tacituse tahtel
As Tacitus Willed, essays
Honours
- Order of the Elephant, Denmark, 1994
- Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour, France, 2001
Later life
- Died of a brain tumour on 14 March 2006. Arvo Pärt's Für Lennart in memoriam was performed at his funeral at Charles's Church in Tallinn on 26 March 2006, and he was buried at the Forest Cemetery.
- Tallinn Airport has carried his name, Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport, since 2009.
During the term
Soomaa National Park
Great bogs and floodplains are protected, where the spring flood is known as the fifth season.
The European Union is founded
The Maastricht Treaty enters into force.
A flat income tax
Estonia introduces a single rate of income tax, one of the first countries in Europe to do so.
The last Russian troops leave
Foreign military forces are withdrawn from Estonian soil.
The sinking of the Estonia
The ferry sinks on its way from Tallinn to Stockholm; 852 people lose their lives.
The Union grows to fifteen
Austria, Finland and Sweden join the European Union.
Schengen takes effect
Border checks end between the first seven Schengen countries.
Tallinn's Old Town on the World Heritage List
UNESCO inscribes the historic centre of the capital.
Talks on joining the European Union open
Estonia is in the first group of candidates to begin negotiations.
The euro is launched
Eleven EU countries share a single currency.
NATO's first enlargement eastward
The Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland join the Alliance.
World Trade Organization
Estonia becomes a member of the WTO.
No tax on reinvested profits
Companies pay income tax only when they distribute their profits.
A new president in Russia
Vladimir Putin is inaugurated as President of the Russian Federation.
Olympic gold in Sydney
Erki Nool wins the decathlon.
Eurovision winners
Tanel Padar, Dave Benton and 2XL win the Eurovision Song Contest with Everybody.
Attacks on the United States
Terrorist attacks in New York and Washington kill nearly 3,000 people.
Sources
This profile is compiled from the English and Estonian Wikipedia articles and the Office of the President, as of October 2026.