"I will certainly challenge it. Unfortunately, this is ultimately a matter of values," Schults told ERR.

She said she is in contact with a lawyer who is preparing a course of action. She is more likely to go to court rather than turn to the labor dispute committee.

"I think this is quite an important case that could bring some legal clarity, as there has been a fair amount of confusion around it," Schults said.

The former adviser acknowledged that she would not have wanted to comment to journalists about her dismissal, but statements made publicly by Riigikogu Chancellery Director Antero Habicht prompted her to do so.

"Otherwise I wouldn't have wanted to do it, but there were claims there that simply were not correct," she added.

She thanked those who have expressed support for her following her dismissal. "People have written and called me, and I truly appreciate it. I think Estonians have their hearts in the right place," Schults said.

The dismissal came as a surprise to the long-serving official — no prior criticisms had been made of Schultz, who had worked at the Riigikogu Chancellery for more than 30 years.

"Every year, in my performance review summary, I have written that next year I want to do something a little better. I have been rewarded, including last year. I believe the management has been very satisfied with me," she said.

"This mistake was indeed terrible and I am very shaken by it, but this is the first such incident in my entire career. In fact, it's not a career but a mission — I have been an adviser to the Economic Affairs Committee for exactly 32 years," Schults said.

"I'm sitting here on top of boxes I haven't yet managed to unpack. It has been a very difficult period and I am very grateful to people. But I feel it is my duty to take this matter to court," she added.

The adviser was criticized upon dismissal for remarks made in an interview with Eesti Ekspress: "A law is not a poem or a newspaper article where it does not matter if a word is wrong. Time must be given for a law to be completed and mature. Otherwise, the potential damage can be very large."

Asked how much of a role the comment given to a journalist played in her dismissal compared to the legislative error, Schults said: "My understanding was that it played a very large role — it was probably the main thing. At first, that was the impression I got. Reputational damage was the main argument."

ERR pointed out that dismissing someone after giving an interview could also affect other officials' willingness to speak openly with journalists.

By going to court, Schults hopes to encourage her colleagues.

"I have to challenge this. Perhaps it will also encourage colleagues. You simply cannot treat a person this way. I will challenge this on behalf of all of them, thinking of my colleagues and Estonian society. I believe people have the right to know what is happening in the public sector. These are not separate containers — we all live here in small Estonia, in plain view of one another," she said.

On January 12, it emerged that a drafting error in the Gambling Tax Act amendments approved last December eliminated the taxation of online casinos for 2026. Due to the legislative flaw, the state will miss out on approximately €4 million in gambling tax revenue forecast for this year.

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