Mari-Ann Kelam, born Mari-Ann Dotsenko on June 26, 1946, in the Ansbach refugee camp in Germany, is a renowned Estonian politician. After being forced to flee her homeland, she relocated to the United States in 1950, initially settling in Ohio before eventually making her way to Washington.
Mari-Ann's political career began to take shape in the late 1980s when she served as the secretary of the Estonian Committee for Assistance to Imprisoned Freedom Fighters from 1984 to 1989. This marked the beginning of her long and illustrious career in politics.
In 1993, Mari-Ann returned to Estonia and began working as a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a position she held until 1996. She then went on to serve as the foreign secretary of the Patriotic Union from 1996 to 1999.
Throughout her political career, Mari-Ann has been a dedicated public servant, representing the people of Estonia in the IX Riigikogu from 1999 to 2003 and the XI Riigikogu from 2009 to 2011. Her commitment to her country and its people has been unwavering.
In addition to her work in the Riigikogu, Mari-Ann has also been actively involved in various other organizations. She has served as a member of the board of Isamaaliit, a prominent Estonian political party, and has also been a member of the board of Viimsi region of Isamaa. Furthermore, she has served as the vice chairman of Viimsi rural municipality council.
