Indrek Toome
- February 28, 2023
- 79 years
About Indrek Toome
Indrek Toome, 79, Estonian politician, chairman of the Council of Ministers (1988–1990).
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Full Biography
|Indrek Toome (19 September 1943 – 28 February 2023) was an Estonian politician and entrepreneur. As a top level communist party official, he held several important positions in the leadership of the Estonian SSR. Becoming the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR in 1988, and continuing as the prime minister of the Estonian SSR in 1989, after the renaming of the Council of Ministers to the Government.
For the 1990 Estonian Supreme Soviet election, Toome organized a list Democratic alliance "Free Estonia" which got 15 seats out of 105 and ended up in opposition with the election winners Popular Front, who formed the new government.
In independent Estonia, Toome worked as a real estate businessman. Among other things, he was the major owner of Viru Keskus.
Biography
Toome was born in Tallinn on 19 September 1943, during the German occupation of Estonia. He completed his studies in 1968 as an electrical engineer at the Polytechnic Institute in Tallinn (now Tallinn University of Technology).
From 1972 to 1990, Toome held various senior posts in the Estonian branch of the Soviet Young Communist League (Komsomol) and the regional organization of the Soviet Union's Communist Party in the Estonian SSR.
From 16 November 1988 until 3 April 1990, Toome was chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR, a position similar to head of provincial government, in then Soviet-controlled Estonia. It was under his leadership that the Soviet authorities began to succumb to pressure from the Singing Revolution, the peaceful liberation of Estonia from the 1944–1991 Soviet occupation. With the collapse of Soviet regime in Estonia, on 3 April 1990, after the first free elections in Estonia since before World War II, he peacefully handed over his office to Edgar Savisaar. On 20 August 1991, Estonia restored its full independence.
In 1990-1992, Toome was elected member of the last Soviet-era Estonian (Ülemnõukogu). On 20 August 1991, he was one of the 69 members of the parliament who declared the illegal Soviet occupation and annexation of the country terminated, and proclaimed the full restoration of the independence of Estonia.
After 1992, Toome was a partner at an estate agency. In 1995, he was convicted by the Tallinn District and fined for an attempt to bribe officials of the Estonian Internal Security Service (KAPO).
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indrek_Toome
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Indrek Toome's archived record and the sources above.
1.In what city was Indrek Toome born?
- A.Narva
- B.Tallinncorrect
- C.Pärnu
- D.Tartu
Indrek Toome was born in Tallinn on 19 September 1943.
Source: Biography section
2.In what year did Indrek Toome complete his studies as an electrical engineer?
- A.1990
- B.1972
- C.1968correct
- D.1988
Indrek Toome completed his studies as an electrical engineer in 1968 at the Polytechnic Institute in Tallinn.
Source: Biography section
3.What position did Indrek Toome hold in the Estonian SSR beginning in 1988?
- A.Head of the Secret Police
- B.Minister of Education
- C.Chairman of the Council of Ministerscorrect
- D.Minister of Finance
Indrek Toome served as the chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian SSR from 1988 to 1990.
Source: Introduction section
4.To which organization did the political list organized by Indrek Toome for the 1990 election belong?
- A.Popular Front
- B.Communist Party
- C.Democratic alliance Free Estoniacorrect
- D.Singing Revolution Council
For the 1990 election, Indrek Toome organized the Democratic alliance Free Estonia.
Source: Introduction section
5.When did Indrek Toome pass away?
- A.3 April 1990
- B.19 September 1943
- C.20 August 1991
- D.28 February 2023correct
Indrek Toome died on 28 February 2023.
Source: Introduction section
6.What business field did Indrek Toome enter after Estonia achieved independence?
- A.Agricultural manufacturing
- B.Shipping and logistics
- C.Telecommunications
- D.Real estatecorrect
In independent Estonia, Indrek Toome worked as a real estate businessman.
Source: Introduction section
7.What institution did Indrek Toome attend to study electrical engineering?
- A.Estonian Military Academy
- B.University of Tartu
- C.Polytechnic Institute in Tallinncorrect
- D.Tallinn University
Indrek Toome completed his electrical engineering studies at the Polytechnic Institute in Tallinn.
Source: Biography section
8.How many seats did the alliance organized by Indrek Toome win in the 1990 Estonian Supreme Soviet election?
- A.105
- B.69
- C.15correct
- D.82
The Democratic alliance Free Estonia, organized by Indrek Toome, won 15 out of 105 seats in the 1990 election.
Source: Introduction section
9.To whom did Indrek Toome hand over his office on 3 April 1990?
- A.An Estonian diplomat
- B.The head of the Popular Front
- C.A Soviet military official
- D.Edgar Savisaarcorrect
On 3 April 1990, Indrek Toome peacefully handed over his office to Edgar Savisaar.
Source: Biography section
10.In what year was Indrek Toome convicted for an attempt to bribe officials?
- A.1995correct
- B.1990
- C.1992
- D.2023
In 1995, Indrek Toome was convicted by the Tallinn District for attempting to bribe officials.
Source: Biography section
11.What major property was Indrek Toome a major owner of?
- A.Tallinn TV Tower
- B.Estonian National Opera
- C.Tallinn Airport
- D.Viru Keskuscorrect
Indrek Toome was noted as being the major owner of Viru Keskus.
Source: Introduction section
12.How many members of parliament, including Indrek Toome, declared the Soviet occupation terminated on 20 August 1991?
- A.79
- B.105
- C.69correct
- D.15
Indrek Toome was one of the 69 members of the parliament who declared the Soviet occupation terminated.
Source: Biography section
13.During which historical period was Indrek Toome born?
- A.The German occupation of Estoniacorrect
- B.The Singing Revolution
- C.The post-Soviet transition
- D.The restoration of independence
Indrek Toome was born in Tallinn on 19 September 1943, during the German occupation of Estonia.
Source: Biography section
14.Which political organization did Indrek Toome serve in from 1972 to 1990?
- A.The Estonian Internal Security Service
- B.The Soviet Young Communist Leaguecorrect
- C.The Popular Front
- D.The Free Estonia Alliance
From 1972 to 1990, Indrek Toome held senior posts in the Estonian branch of the Soviet Young Communist League.
Source: Biography section
15.What is the modern name of the institute where Indrek Toome completed his studies?
- A.Tallinn University of Technologycorrect
- B.University of Tallinn
- C.Estonian Business School
- D.Estonian Academy of Arts
The Polytechnic Institute in Tallinn, where Indrek Toome studied, is now known as Tallinn University of Technology.
Source: Biography section
16.What was the result of the election where the Popular Front beat the group organized by Indrek Toome?
- A.Indrek Toome retired from politics
- B.Indrek Toome became prime minister
- C.Indrek Toome ended up in oppositioncorrect
- D.Indrek Toome was elected to the Council of Ministers
The group organized by Indrek Toome ended up in opposition against the Popular Front after the 1990 election.
Source: Introduction section
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