This article discusses the issue of legal existence of ethnic minorities by asking whether and how legal recognition of ethnic groups as collective entities has affected individual freedom of ethnic self-identification. To this end, the article analyses court cases concerning the ethnicity record in identity documents in 1920s Estonia. It appears that the court decisions, all of which covered the right of individuals to select the ethnicity record “German”, as a side effect of relying on the Cultural Autonomy Law, explicitly declared small and marginal ethnic groups that did not meet the requirements of the law to be legally non-existent and prohibited the individual freedom to self-identify with these ethnic groups. However, these decisions appeared to have no significant impact on the individual freedom of choice. The results of the article thus show that the link between legal recognition of ethnic minorities as collective entities and individual freedom of ethnic self-identification is not unambiguous. Whether and to what extent restrictions on the freedom of choice were implemented in practice may have been dependent on such social conditions that are not immediately apparent from legal norms.
1. In this article, ethnicity is used as a generic term for communities that are defined and delimited by a variety of characteristics but primarily exist due to the cognitive perception of rigid boundaries between them. For the background of this terminological choice, see F. Barth. Introduction. – Ethnic Groups and Boundaries: The Social Organization of Culture Difference. Ed. by F. Barth. Waveland Press, Long Grove, 1998, 9–38; C. Lorenz. Representations of Identity: Ethnicity, Race, Class, Gender and Religion. An Introduction to Conceptual History. – The Contested Nation: Ethnicity, Class, Religion and Gender in National Histories. Ed. by S. Berger, C. Lorenz. Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 2008, 24–59; S. Malešević. The Sociology of Ethnicity. Sage, London, 2004. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446215029
2. For the variety of formal categorisation practices at different times and in different geographical areas, see e.g. A. Bonnett, B. Carrington. Fitting Into Categories or Falling Between Them? Rethinking Ethnic Classification. – British Journal of Sociology of Education, 2000, 21, 4, 487–500. https://doi.org/10.1080/713655371; J. Cadiot. Searching for Nationality: Statistics and National Categories at the End of the Russian Empire (1897–1917). – The Russian Review, 2005, 64, 3, 440–455. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9434.2005.00369.x; D. I. Kertzer, D. Arel. Censuses, Identity Formation, and the Struggle for Political Power. – Census and Identity: The Politics of Race, Ethnicity, and Language in National Censuses. Ed. by D. I. Kertzer, D. Arel. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002, 1–42; B. Kuzmany. Objectivising National Identity: The Introduction of National Registers in the Late Habsburg Empire. – Nations and Nationalism, 2023, 29, 3, 975–991. https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.12950; P. Mateos. A Review of Name‐Based Ethnicity Classification Methods and Their Potential in Population Studies. – Population, Space and Place, 2007, 13, 4, 243–263. https://doi.org/10.1002/psp.457; V. Messing, A. L. Pap. Cacophony in Conceptualizing and Operationalizing Ethnicity: The Case of Roma in Hungary. – Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2024, 47, 9, 1920–1940. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2024.2328327; A. Morning. Ethnic Classification in Global Perspective: A Cross-National Survey of the 2000 Census Round. – Social Statistics and Ethnic Diversity: Cross-National Perspectives in Classifications and Identity Politics. Ed. by P. Simon, V. Piché, A. A. Gagnon. Springer, Cham, 2015, 17–37. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20095-8_2; A. L. Pap. Is There a Legal Right to Free Choice of Ethno-Racial Identity: Legal and Political Difficulties in Defining Minority Communities and Membership Boundaries. – Columbia Human Rights Law Review, 2015, 46, 2, 153–232.
3. See e.g. G. Baranowska. Legal Regulations on National and Ethnic Minorities in Poland. – Przegląd Zachodni, 2014, 2, 35–48; T. Magazzini. When Ethnicity is “National”: Mapping Ethnic Minorities in Europe’s Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. – Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2024, 47, 9, 1812–1833. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2024.2328338
4. In this article, the term ethnic minority is used in a quantitative sense, referring to any collective entity composed of individuals who self-identify in various life situations (for example, for a census) with a group that is numerically in a clear minority in a particular country without regard to migration background, autochthony, inner cohesion of community or other abstract factors sometimes considered important in terms of minorisation.
5. See e.g. B. Dobos. The Question of Recognising New Minorities in Hungary. – Hungarian Journal of Legal Studies, 2025, 65, 4, 432–453. https://doi.org/10.1556/2052.2024.00557; F. Palermo, J. Woelk. No Representation Without Recognition: The Right to Political Participation of (National) Minorities. – Journal of European Integration, 2003, 25, 3, 225–248. https://doi.org/10.1080/0703633032000133574; A. Petričušić. The Rights of Minorities in International Law. – Croatian International Relations Review, 2005, 11, 38/39, 47–57.
6. See e.g. A. Morning. Ethnic Classification in Global Perspective.
7. For late imperial Austria, see e.g. B. Kuzmany. Objectivising National Identity.
8. A selection of relevant studies: T. Aava. Minorities and the State: Non-Territorial Autonomy in Estonia in the Late Tsarist and Interwar Periods. PhD dissertation, University of Vienna, 2023; K. Alenius. The Birth of Cultural Autonomy in Estonia: How, Why, and for Whom? – Journal of Baltic Studies, 2007, 38, 4, 445–462. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629770701682723; K. Aun. The Cultural Autonomy of National Minorities in Estonia. – Yearbook of the Estonian Learned Society in America, 1951/1953, 1, 26–41; M. Housden. Ambiguous Activists. Estonia’s Model of Cultural Autonomy as Interpreted by Two of Its Founders: Werner Hasselblatt and Ewald Ammende. – Journal of Baltic Studies, 2004, 35, 3, 231–253. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629770400000091; M. Housden. Cultural Autonomy in Estonia: One of History’s ‘Curiosities’? – The Baltic States and Their Region: New Europe or Old. Ed. by D. J. Smith. Rodopi, Amsterdam, 2005, 227–249. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789401201438_012; K. Laurits. Saksa kultuuromavalitsus Eesti Vabariigis 1925–1940: Monograafia ja allikad. Rahvusarhiiv, Tallinn, 2008; D. J. Smith, J. Hiden. Ethnic Diversity and the Nation State: National Cultural Autonomy Revisited. Routledge, London, 2012. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203118320; D. J. Smith. Estonia: A Model for Inter-War Europe? – Ethnopolitics, 2016, 15, 1, 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1080/17449057.2015.1101841; V. Vasara. Das estnische Parlament und die Deutschbalten: Zu den Debatten bis zur Verabschiedung der Kulturautonomie 1925. – Nordost-Archiv, 1995, 4, 2, 479–500.
9. See e.g. K. Kössler, K. Zabielska. Cultural Autonomy in Estonia Before and After the Soviet Interregnum. – Solving Ethnic Conflict through Self-Government: A Short Guide to Autonomy in South Asia and Europe. Ed. by T. Benedikter. EURAC, Bolzano, 2009, 56–60; M. Lagerspetz. Cultural Autonomy of National Minorities in Estonia: The Erosion of a Promise. – Journal of Baltic Studies, 2014, 45, 4, 457–475. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629778.2014.942676; D. J. Smith. The “Quadratic Nexus” Revisited: Nation-Building in Estonia Through the Prism of National Cultural Autonomy. – Nationalities Papers, 2020, 48, 2, 235–250. https://doi.org/10.1017/nps.2018.38
10. M. Kuldkepp. Vähemusrahvuste küsimus Eesti riikluse tekke-ja algusperioodil. – Õpetatud Eesti Seltsi aastaraamat 2020. Õpetatud Eesti Selts, Tartu, 2022, 167–190.
11. See e.g. T. Aava. Jewish Autonomy in Interwar Estonia and the Life Trajectories of Its Leaders. – S: IMON Shoah: Intervention. Methods. Documentation, 2023, 10, 1, 37–56. https://doi.org/10.23777/sn.0123/art_taav01; K. Alenius. Dealing with the Russian Population in Estonia, 1919–1921. – Ajalooline Ajakiri = The Estonian Historical Journal, 2012, 1/2, 167–182; M. Kuldkepp. The Political Choices and Outlooks of the Estonian Swedish National Minority, 1917–1920. – National Identities, 2021, 23, 4, 409–431. https://doi.org/10.1080/14608944.2021.1873930; M. Kuldkepp. “A Union of Friendship Between Two Entire Nationalities”: The Estonian Swedes and the German-Swedish Bloc in the 1929 Estonian Parliamentary Elections. – Acta Historica Tallinnensia, 2024, 30, 1, 50–82. https://doi.org/10.3176/hist.2024.1.02; Die Deutsche Volksgruppe in Estland während der Zwischenkriegszeit und aktuelle Fragen des deutsch-estnischen Verhältnisses. Ed. by B. Meissner, D. A. Loeber, C. Hasselblatt. Bibliotheca Baltica, Hamburg, 1997; D. J. Smith. Retracing Estonia’s Russians: Mikhail Kurchinskii and Interwar Cultural Autonomy. – Nationalities Papers, 1999, 27, 3, 455–474. https://doi.org/10.1080/009059999108966
12. See e.g. K. Alenius. “Away with German and Russian Influence!” Ethno-Political Considerations in the Reorganisation of the Estonian School System in the Early 1920s. – Zeitschrift für Ostmitteleuropa-Forschung, 2007, 56, 3, 347–363. https://doi.org/10.25627/20075638726; K. Katus, A. Puur, L. Sakkeus. Development of National Minorities: Republic of Estonia up to 1944. – Trames, 1997, 1, 3, 221–246. https://doi.org/10.3176/tr.1997.3.01
13. Hereinafter the Autonomy Law or Cultural Autonomy Law. For the original Estonian version, see Wähemusrahwuste kultuur-omawalitsuse seadus. – Riigi Teataja, 1925, 31–32, 153–156. Further references to and quotes from the law are from the English translation published in the official journal of the League of Nations: Law on the Cultural Autonomy of Racial Minorities in Esthonia. – League of Nations, Official Journal, 1925, 6, 6, 788–791.
14. See e.g. K. Rebane. Vähemusrahvuste õiguste kohtulik kaitse riigikohtu administratiivosakonna praktikas 1920–1940. Magistritöö, Tartu Ülikool, 2019; K. Rebane. Rahvuse vaba määramine – kas põhiseadusega tagatud kodanikuõigus II maailmasõja eelses Eesti Vabariigis? – Juridica, 2019, 10, 723–730; T. Tark. Die deutsche Kulturselbstverwaltung und die Änderung der Volkszugehörigkeit in Estland in den 1920er Jahren. – Jahrbücher für Geschichte Osteuropas, 2022, 70, 1/2, 131–158. https://doi.org/10.25162/jgo-2022-0005; T. Tark. Does Non‐Territorial Autonomy Essentialise Ethnicity? Cultural Autonomy Legislation in Interwar Estonia. – Nations and Nationalism, 2025, 31, 2, 509–522. https://doi.org/10.1111/nana.13088; T. Tark. Rahvuse määramisest Eesti Vabariigis: 1928. aasta rahvuse muutmise seaduse eelnõu. – Akadeemia, 2025, 9, 1588–1622.
15. For one recent example, see e.g. J. Schnur, M. Leppik. Kaassõna. – Riigiõiguse aastaraamat 2021. Eesti Teaduste Akadeemia riigiõiguse sihtkapital, Tallinn, 2021, 325–331 (328). For contemporary overviews, see e.g. S. v. Csekey. Strafrechtlicher Schutz des freien Nationalitätsbekenntnisses. – Glasul Minorităţilor, 1927, 5, 4, 149–154; S. v. Csekey. Estland. Staatsgericht (Verwaltungsabteilung) Tartu (Dorpat). Jeder Staatsbürger ist frei in der Bestimmung seiner Nationalität. – Zeitschrift für Ostrecht, 1927, 1, 3, 391–393; E. Maddison, O. Angelus. Das Grundgesetz des Freistaats Estland vom 15. Juni 1920. Carl Heymanns, Berlin, 1928, 34–35.
16. Rahva demograafiline koosseis ja korteriolud Eestis: 1922 a. üldrahvalugemise andmed. Vihk I. Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo, Tallinn, 1924, 31; Rahvastiku koostis ja korteriolud. 1. III 1934 rahvaloenduse andmed. Vihk II. Riigi Statistika Keskbüroo, Tallinn, 1935, 47–53.
17. Eesti wabariigi põhiseadus. – Riigi Teataja, 1920, 113–114, 897–901 (here 898). For the English translation, see The Constitution of the Esthonian Republic (passed by the Constituent Assembly on the 15th of June 1920). Ühiselu, Tallinn, 1924.
18. The limited applicability of native language education was already acknowledged during the discussions on the Law on Public Primary Schools in the Constituent Assembly. See T. Tark. Valikuline kohustus: emakeelne kooliharidus sõdadevahelises Eestis. – Ajalooline Ajakiri, 2021, 175, 1/2, 53–78 (here 57). https://doi.org/10.12697/AA.2021.1-2.03
19. For an analysis of such trends using the example of the Ingrian Finns, see K. Alenius, “Away with German and Russian Influence!”, 359–362.
20. For more detail about state authorities’ attitudes towards Germans and Russians, see e.g. K. Alenius. Under the Conflicting Pressures of the Ideals of the Era and the Burdens of History: Ethnic Relations in Estonia, 1918–1925. – Journal of Baltic Studies, 2004, 35, 1, 32–49. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629770300000211;K. Alenius. Dealing with the Russian Population in Estonia; H. Rohtmets. Vergeltung am Erzfeind? Die Staatsbürgerschaftsfrage der Deutschbalten in der neugegründeten Republik Estland. – Forschungen zur Baltischen Geschichte, 2011, 6, 141–162.
21. For a historiographical overview, see T. U. Raun. The Image of the Baltic German Elites in Twentieth-Century Estonian Historiography: The 1930s vs. the 1970s. – Journal of Baltic Studies, 1999, 30, 4, 338–351. https://doi.org/10.1080/01629779900000161
22. For more detail, see e.g. T. Tark. Rahvuskuuluvuse tähendus riigi ja üksikisiku perspektiivist Eestist Saksamaale 1941. aastal ümberasunute elulooliste andmete põhjal. PhD dissertation. Tartu Ülikooli Kirjastus, Tartu, 2021.
23. Awalikkude algkoolide seadus. – Riigi Teataja, 1920, 75–76, 593–599. For the implementation of such school system see T. Tark. Valikuline kohustus.
24. Määrus isikutunnistuste kohta. – Riigi Teataja, 1919, 91–92, 722. According to the regulation, the Ministry of the Interior was responsible for developing the design of the identity documents.
25. T. Tark. Rahvuskuuluvuse tähendus, 70–77.
26. Eesti wabariigi põhiseadus, 898.
27. Siseministri määrus isikutunnistuste paranduste kohta. – Riigi Teataja, 1921, 22, 137.
28. For relevant documentation from 1921 to 1924, see Rahvusarhiiv (National Archives of Estonia, RA), Tallinn, ERA.14.1.665; RA, ERA.14.1.709; RA, ERA.14.1.910; RA, ERA.14.1.1013. See also Valitsusasutiste tegevus 1918–1934. Riigikantselei, Tallinn, 1934, 215.
29. Manifest kõigile Eestimaa rahwastele. – Riigi Teataja, 1918, 1, 1–2 (here 1); Eesti Wabariigi põhiseadus, 898.
30. For the adoption of cultural autonomy in Estonia, see e.g. K. Alenius. The Birth of Cultural Autonomy; D. J. Smith, J. Hiden. Ethnic Diversity and the Nation State; V. Vasara. Das estnische Parlament und die Deutschbalten.
31. See more T. Tark. Does Non‐Territorial Autonomy Essentialise Ethnicity.
32. In the 1920s, “Esthonia” was the standard English form of the name “Estonia” in international communication and English-language legal texts.
33. Law on the Cultural Autonomy of Racial Minorities in Esthonia, 789. At that time and later, in addition to those explicitly mentioned, only Jews and Latvians crossed the 3,000 mark.
34. In this translation of the law, the words racial and national were used interchangeably as synonyms. Thus, the former should not be interpreted as a reference to phenotype. For this conceptual ambiguity, see more e.g. D. I. Kertzer, D. Arel. Censuses, Identity Formation, and the Struggle for Political Power, 12; C. Lorenz. Representations of Identity, 35–41.
35. Law on the Cultural Autonomy of Racial Minorities in Esthonia, 789.
36. For the explanatory memorandum, see Lisa nr. 87. – II Riigikogu protokollide lisad. VII istungjärk. Riigikogu, Tallinn, 1925, columns 209–219.
37. T. Tark. Does Non‐Territorial Autonomy Essentialise Ethnicity, 515.
38. Määrus Eesti Wabariigi Saksa wähemusrahwuse esimese kultuurnõukogu walimiste walijate nimekirja kokkuseadmise kohta. – Riigi Teataja, 1925, 65–66, 346–347; Rahwusnimekirjade pidamise määrus. – Riigi Teataja, 1925, 101–102, 469–470.
39. T. Tark. Die deutsche Kulturselbstverwaltung.
40. D. J. Smith, J. Hiden. Ethnic Diversity and the Nation State, 48.
41. In an earlier study, 35 cases were discussed, yet this study does not include all relevant court files, while cases that did not directly concern the ethnicity record in identity documents were included. See K. Rebane. Vähemusrahvuste õiguste kohtulik kaitse, 20–27.
42. These six cases are not relevant to this article, but it is worth briefly mentioning that in all cases the court upheld the complaints and ordered the ministry to fulfill its legal obligations. See Bernhard Jürgens against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.597; Alma Pajo against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.617; Senta Treffner against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.647; Balduin Eskenson against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.587; Ida Eichen against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.585; Eduard Eichen against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.584.
43. In another case, the complaint of a married woman was rejected on the grounds that, according to the Baltic Private Law, she had no right to authorise a lawyer to represent her in court without her husband’s written permission. Thus, in this case, the court lacked any substantive arguments on the issue of ethnicity determination. For this case see Beatrice Mill against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.613. Baltic Private Law was adopted in 1865 and still in force in independent Estonia since new private law could not be established within two decades of Estonia’s first independence period. See P. Varul. Legal Policy Decisions and Choices in the Creation of New Private Law in Estonia. – Juridica International, 2000, 5, 104–118 (here 108).
44. Decision in the case of Elfriede Treumann against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.649. In fact, both the application and complaint were accompanied by certificates (thereby not identical) stating that the minor in question as well as her father had belonged to a German-language congregation. The judges did not comment on either certificate, thus failing to assess their suitability as evidence. See Certificate issued by the pastor of the St. Nicolas’ congregation, August 1925. RA, ERA.14.1.1127; Certificate issued by the pastor of the St. Nicolas’ congregation, 23 September 1925. RA, ERA.1356.2.649.
45. In one exceptional case from 1929, this nuance was also emphasised by the lawyer Walter von Stackelberg. See Stackelberg to the Supreme Court in the case of Kurt Frey, 19 November 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.589.
46. The translation of this quote comes from the official translation by the League of Nations. The remainder of this passage and all the quotes presented below are the author’s.
47. Marta Thiel’i voliniku vann. adv. Valter Stackelberg’i kaebus siseministri resolutsiooni peale 31. aug. 1925 a. rahvuse nimetuse parandamise asjas. – 1926. aasta Riigikohtu otsused. “Õiguse” väljaanne, Tartu, 1927, 23–24. The decision in the file of Martha Thiel’s case: Decision in the case of Martha Thiel against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.644. Analogous decisions of the same date: Decision in the case of Voldemar Rose against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.631; Decision in the case of Johanna Rautsa against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.625; Decision in the case of Helene-Marie Mend against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.610; Decision in the case of Herbert Mend against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.611; Decision in the case of Emma Liva against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.605; Decision in the case of Karl Johan Lipping against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.604; Decision in the case of Harry Lipping against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.603; Decision in the case of Valeska Grosset against the Ministry of the Interior, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.592.
48. See e.g. Minutes of the court hearing in the case of Emma Liva, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.605; Minutes of the court hearing in the case of Herbert Mend, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.611; Minutes of the court hearing in the case of Johanna Rautsa, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.625; Minutes of the court hearing in the case of Karin Kengsep, 26 October 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.599.
49. Minutes of the court hearing in the case of Herbert Mend, 26 February 1926. RA, ERA.1356.2.611.
50. Relevant cases, respectively: Harry Umblia against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.650; Hildegard Lane against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.600; Ernst Lindemann against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.602; Paul Riik against the Ministry of the Interior. RA, ERA.1356.2.630. The decision of 20 December 1926 in the case of Ernst Lindemann that allowed multiple ethnicity determinations for a person later became a kind of precedent, to which the lawyers representing the complainants repeatedly referred.
51. Decision in the case of Elisabeth Wiren against the Ministry of the Interior, 30 March 1928. RA, ERA.1356.2.655; Decision in the case of Aleksander Treikeller against the Ministry of the Interior, 30 March 1928. RA, ERA.1356.2.648; Decision in the case of Johannes Blumberg against the Ministry of the Interior, 17 May 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.581.
52. See e.g. B. Kuzmany. Objectivising National Identity; L. Djordjević. Introduction: Ethnic Data and Minority Protection. – Journal on Ethnopolitics and Minority Issues in Europe, 2020, 19, 2, 1–13; K. Nieminen. Implicit and Explicit Boundaries of Belonging: Indigenous and Minority Identities. – Research Handbook on Law and Courts. Ed. by S. M. Sterett, L. D. Walker. Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, 2019, 365–378; A. L. Pap. Is There a Legal Right to Free Choice.
53. Minutes of the court hearing in the case of Paul Riik, 13 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.630.
54. Quote translated from the case of Paul Riik: Decision in the case of Paul Riik against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.630. Analogous decisions of the same date: Decision in the case of Meta Riik against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.629; Decision in the case of Marie Adamson against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.577; Decision in the case of Klara-Elisabet Fromhold-Treu against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.590; Decision in the case of Alma Pajo against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.618; Decision in the case of Viktor Sihle against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.639; Decision in the case of Helmi Sitska against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.640; Decision in the case of Alma Zero against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.642; Decision in the case of Jenny Taube against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.643; Decision in the case of Valentiina Tomingas against the Ministry of the Interior, 13/19 December 1929. RA, ERA.1356.2.646.
55. Decision in the case of Ellen Frey against the Ministry of the Interior, 4 April 1930. RA, ERA.1356.2.588; Decision in the case of Kurt Frey against the Ministry of the Interior, 4 April 1930. RA, ERA.1356.2.589; Decision in the case of Harry Ojasuu against the Ministry of the Interior, 1 April 1930. RA, ERA.1356.2.616; Decision in the case of Karlos Schüler against the Ministry of the Interior, 1 April 1930. RA, ERA.1356.2.636.
56. Lisa nr. 87, column 212.
57. T. Tark. Does Non‐Territorial Autonomy Essentialise Ethnicity.
58. See e.g. The decision on the application of Evdokia Trass to change the ethnicity in the identity document from Russian to Ukrainian, 11 May 1927. RA, ERA.1.6.115; The decision on the application of Boris Verzinsky to change the ethnicity in the identity document from Russian to Polish, 8 September 1928. RA, ERA.1.6.125; The decision on the application of Anna Linde to change the ethnicity in the identity document from Estonian to English, 4 October 1928. RA, ERA.1.6.125; The decision on the application of Johann Abraitis to change the ethnicity in the identity document from Polish to Lithuanian, October 1929. RA, ERA.1.6.141.
59. The decision on the application of Valentin Raban to change the ethnicity in the identity document to French, 26 February 1931. RA, ERA.1.6.151.
60. For amendments to the regulation, see Rahvusnimekirjade pidamise määruse osalise muutmise määrus. – Riigi Teataja, 1931, 107, 1233; Rahvusnimekirjade pidamise määruse osalise muutmise määrus. – Riigi Teataja, 1933, 1, 3–4; Rahvusnimekirjade pidamise määruse muutmise määrus. – Riigi Teataja, 1934, 97, 1667–1668.
61. T. Tark. Does Non-Territorial Autonomy Essentialise Ethnicity, 517; T. Aava. Minorities and the State, 246.
62. The cost of minority schools was an important consideration in the eyes of politicians and officials. See T. Tark. Valikuline kohustus, 72.
