Estonian National Opera Director Suspended Following Sexual Harassment Allegations

By Francisco Salazar

Aivar Mäe, the Director of the Estonian National Opera, has been suspended for two months following allegations of sexual harassment.

Following an “extraordinary” meeting, the Council of the Estonian Opera announced that Mäe would be suspended from his contract until a full investigation was made. The Chairman of the Council Arne Mikk also resigned following the meeting.

On Thursday, July 2, Mäe made a public statement providing explanations and an apology both to the public and the staff of the National Opera.

He also added, “In order to guarantee impartiality of the proceedings initiated by the police, I do not deem it appropriate to further comment on the matter publicly. In order to protect my rights, I have turned to a legal advisor, sworn advocate Paul Keres.”

Earlier in June, reporters, after speaking to a dozen current and former female employees at the National Opera, revealed that the director had made inappropriate or humiliating comments to several female colleagues and touched them inappropriately. According to the report, the harassment began around 2013 and continued through 2020. The women collectively approached the newspaper anonymously.

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