Mari-Ann Kelam

Biography

Mari-Ann Kelam (maiden name Dotsenko, first married Rikken; born June 26, 1946 in the Ansbach refugee camp in Germany) is an Estonian politician. She has been a member of Pro Patria Union. From 1950, she lived as a refugee in the United States, first in Ohio and later in Washington. She began his political career as secretary of the Estonian Committee for Assistance to Imprisoned Freedom Fighters in 1984–1989. She has been living in Estonia since 1993. From 1993 to 1996 she was a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and from 1996 to 1999 she was the foreign secretary of the Patriotic Union. She was a member of the IX Riigikogu in 1999–2003 and the XI Riigikogu in 2009–2011. Kelam has also been a member of the board of Isamaaliit and is a member of the board of Viimsi region of Isamaa and vice chairman of Viimsi rural municipality council.