From 01.01.2027, rape is sexual intercourse without free and expressed consent

From 01.01.2027, the Estonian Penal Code (karistusseadustik, KarS) punishes as rape „Suguühte eest inimesega tema vaba ja väljendatud nõusolekuta“ (translation: sexual intercourse with a person without their free and expressed consent) (KarS § 141 lg 1) [1]. Under the previous basic offence, the intercourse had to involve violence or taking advantage of a state in which the victim was incapable of resisting or understanding what was happening [2]. The law now also defines when consent is free and expressed (KarS § 141²) [3].

What changes

• KarS § 141 lg 1: the previous wording was „Inimese tahte vastaselt temaga suguühtesse astumise eest vägivallaga või ära kasutades tema seisundit, milles ta ei olnud võimeline vastupanu osutama või toimunust aru saama“ (translation: sexual intercourse with a person against their will by using violence or by taking advantage of a state in which they were incapable of resisting or understanding what was happening), punishable by one to six years' imprisonment [2]. The new wording is „Suguühte eest inimesega tema vaba ja väljendatud nõusolekuta – karistatakse kuni nelja-aastase vangistusega“ (translation: sexual intercourse with a person without their free and expressed consent is punishable by up to four years' imprisonment) [1].
• KarS § 141 lg 1¹ and lg 1²: where the act is committed „ära kasutades kannatanu sõltuvust süüdlasest või kuritarvitades saavutatud mõjuvõimu või usaldust“ (translation: by taking advantage of the victim's dependence on the offender or by abusing influence or trust gained), the punishment is one to four years' imprisonment; for an act committed by violence or by taking advantage of the victim's helpless state, the offender „karistatakse ühe- kuni kuueaastase vangistusega“ (translation: is punishable by one to six years' imprisonment) [1].
• KarS § 141² (new): consent is free and expressed when all four conditions are met: „nõusolek on antud teadlikult ja vabatahtlikult ilma sunnita või muul viisil nõusoleku andja tahtekujundust oluliselt piirava mõjutamiseta“ (translation: consent is given knowingly and voluntarily, without coercion or other influence substantially restricting the will of the person giving it); „nõusolekut on teisele inimesele väljendatud sõnaliselt või muul selgelt arusaadaval viisil“ (translation: consent has been expressed to the other person verbally or in another clearly understandable way); „nõusolek on antud enne suguühet või muud sugulise iseloomuga tegu“ (translation: consent is given before the intercourse or other act of a sexual nature); „nõusolek on olemas kogu suguühte või muu sugulise iseloomuga teo ajal“ (translation: consent exists throughout the intercourse or other act of a sexual nature) [3].
• KarS § 141 lg 2: with aggravating circumstances (for example, committed by a group or causing serious damage to health) the punishment was „kuue- kuni viieteistaastase vangistusega“ (translation: six to fifteen years' imprisonment) [2]; the new punishment is „viie- kuni viieteistaastase vangistusega“ (translation: five to fifteen years' imprisonment) [1]. For a minor victim, the aggravating circumstance now is that the act was committed by „täisealine isik noorema kui kaheksateistaastase isiku suhtes“ (translation: an adult against a person under eighteen years of age) [1].
• KarS § 141 lg 3¹ (new): where the offender has previously been punished for an offence in the same division, „ei jäeta mõistetud karistust täielikult tingimisi kohaldamata“ (translation: the sentence imposed is not left fully unenforced on probation) [1].
• KarS § 141¹: the previous title „Tahtevastane sugulise iseloomuga tegu“ (translation: act of a sexual nature against will) and basic offence likewise required violence or taking advantage of a helpless state [4]. The new title is „Nõusolekuta sugulise iseloomuga tegu“ (translation: act of a sexual nature without consent), and an act of a sexual nature with a person without their free and expressed consent „karistatakse kuni kolmeaastase vangistusega“ (translation: is punishable by up to three years' imprisonment) where the elements of rape are absent [5].
• KarS § 143 and § 143²: the previous separate offences on taking advantage of dependence apply until 31.12.2026 [6] [7]; in the new wording, taking advantage of dependence falls under KarS § 141 lg 1¹ and § 141¹ lg 1¹ [1] [5].

Who is affected

Everyone: sexual intercourse or another act of a sexual nature with a person without their free and expressed consent is a crime [1] [5]. For practitioners – investigators, prosecutors, defence counsel and courts – it means new offences and new sentencing ranges [1] [5].

What to do

1. Bear in mind that under KarS § 141² consent must be expressed „sõnaliselt või muul selgelt arusaadaval viisil“ (translation: verbally or in another clearly understandable way) and must exist throughout the act [3].
2. Lawyers should review pending cases where the legal classification or the sentencing range changes, for example the minimum under KarS § 141 lg 2 [1] [2], and the fact that KarS § 143 and § 143² cease to apply after 31.12.2026 [6] [7]. A sentence is imposed under the law in force when the act was committed; a law that mitigates the punishment or otherwise improves the person's situation has retroactive effect, while a law that makes an act punishable or aggravates the punishment does not (KarS § 5) [8]. The new consent-based offence therefore does not apply to acts committed before 01.01.2027 that were not punishable under the previous law.