The Estonian delegation's visit to the leader of Tibetan Buddhists – the Dalai Lama – caused an unexpected conflict. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
The incident took place in India and sparked strong protests among the local population. According to Õhtuleht newspaper, the conflict began because the delegation members did not adhere to the rules set before the meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Before the trip, the delegation representatives were warned about requirements such as not consuming alcoholic beverages. However, some members of the delegation did not comply with these rules.
In particular, representatives of the "Estonia 200" party Yuk-u-Kalle Raid, Marek Reynaas, and the adviser to the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs Kadri Napritson-Akune ignored the established rules. Their actions attracted the attention of those around them and caused a strong public reaction.
Indian pilgrims openly reprimanded the delegation members, which further complicated the situation. It was emphasized that the delegation members were intoxicated and that the meeting took on a morally inappropriate character.
Later, Kadri Napritson-Akune commented on the incident, stating that she covered the travel expenses from her personal funds and did not consider consuming alcohol during leisure time a problem. However, this statement did not soften the public's negative attitude.
This incident was a serious reputational blow for the Estonian delegation and once again highlighted the importance of observing etiquette and local rules on the international stage.
