Jaak Jõerüüt (born 9 December 1947 in Tallinn) is an Estonian writer and politician. He was the defense minister of Estonia from November 2004 to 10 October 2005.
He was appointed to that position in November 2004 in Juhan Parts's government. When Parts resigned in April 2005, Jaak Jõerüüt was one of the few ministers retained in Andrus Ansip's government. Jõerüüt was also acting foreign minister of Estonia for a few days in February 2005.
In September 2005, Jõerüüt resigned voluntarily over the so-called "T-Shirt Affair". (A T-shirt was produced with a list of the names of several Estonian politicians, including Jõerüüt, who are former members of the communist party; it was headed "Commies into the Oven!" At a soccer match, this was worn by several people who were in the employment of his ministry.) Media and analysis comments mainly concluded that Jõerüüt resigned to distance himself from a government shaken by scandal, to create an untainted image for himself for further office, perhaps that of President of Estonia. Jõerüüt was succeeded by Jürgen Ligi.
Jõerüüt previously served as Estonia's ambassador to the United Nations in 2004. He served as ambassador to Italy and Malta from 1998 through 2002, and ambassador to Cyprus from 1999 through 2004. From 1993 to 1997, Jõerüüt was ambassador to Finland and from 2006 to 2011 to Latvia and now to Sweden from 2011.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Margus Hanson |
Minister of Defence 2004–2005 |
Succeeded by Jürgen Ligi |
| Preceded by Kristiina Ojuland |
Minister of Foreign Affairs February 2005 |
Succeeded by Rein Lang |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by Merle Pajula |
Permanent Representative of Estonia to the United Nations 2004 |
Succeeded by Tiina Intelmann |