Robert Lepikson

{{Short description|Estonian politician, businessman and rally driver/co-driver}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Robert Lepikson

|image =

|caption =

|office = Minister of the Interior

|primeminister = Mart Siimann

|term_start = 5 May 1997

|term_end = 28 January 1998

|predecessor = Riivo Sinijärv

|successor = Olari Taal

|office2 = Mayor of Tallinn

|term_start2 = November 1996

|term_end2 = May 1997

|predecessor2 = Priit Vilba

|successor2 = Ivi Eenmaa

|birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1952|06|14}}

|birth_place = Tallinn, Estonia

|death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2006|07|01|1952|06|14}}

|death_place = Rakvere, Estonia

|party = Centre Party

|alma_mater =

}}

Robert Lepikson (14 June 1952{{cite web |title=Riigikogu liige |url=http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/plsql/basdata.MP_show?itemid=54028 |website=web.archive.org |access-date=24 December 2024 |date=7 September 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030907001233/http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/plsql/basdata.MP_show?itemid=54028 |archive-date=2003-09-07}} – 1 July 2006{{cite web |title=Suri Robert Lepikson |url=https://www.delfi.ee/artikkel/13247497/suri-robert-lepikson |website=Delfi |access-date=21 January 2022}}) was an Estonian politician, businessman and rally driver/co-driver.{{cite web |title=Robert Lepikson |url=http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/plsql/basdata.MP_show?itemid=54028 |website=riigikogu.ee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203339/http://web.riigikogu.ee/ems/plsql/basdata.MP_show?itemid=54028 |archive-date=2007-09-27}}

As a rally driver, he was the Estonian champion three times, winner of the Baltic Cup and was the head of the Estonian motorsport league.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}

As a politician, he switched party memberships several times, having been a member of the Estonian Coalition Party, the Estonian Centre Party and the People's Union of Estonia.{{cite news |title=Tallinn's former mayor Lepikson dies |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/15778/ |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Baltic Times |date=3 July 2006}} He was the mayor of Tallinn for 7 months in 1996 and 1997. He lost his position as Interior Minister a result of conflicts caused by his out-spoken nature regarding fellow politicians in public.{{cite book |title=Country Report: Estonia |date=1998 |publisher=Economist Intelligence Unit |page=11 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Country_Report/-NEbAQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=Robert%20Lepikson%20tallinn%20%221997%22 |access-date=24 December 2024 |language=en}}

In 1999, he was involved in a scandal in Estonian politics, in which Mart Laar used Edgar Savisaar's picture as a target on a shooting range.{{cite news |title=Kaitsevägi: Laar tulistas Savisaare pilti |url=https://www.ohtuleht.ee/102877/kaitsevagi-laar-tulistas-savisaare-pilti |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Ohtuleht |date=20 February 2001 |language=et}}{{cite news |title=Mart Laar vassis ja valetas |url=https://www.ohtuleht.ee/102445/8220mart-laar-vassis-ja-valetas8221- |access-date=24 December 2024 |work=Ohtuleht |date=9 February 2001 |language=et}} He was then part of the X Riigikogu from 2003 to 2006.{{cite web |title=ESBL |url=https://www.esbl.ee/biograafia/Robert_Lepikson |website=www.esbl.ee |access-date=24 December 2024}}

He died of a stroke in 2006.