December 06, 2023

Estonia's Security Threat


Estonia's Security Threat
Natasha Chebanoo, Pexels.

According to Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, government officials are exploring strategies for deporting individuals who have opted to seek Russian citizenship. Kallas's statement came in response to Deputy Alexander Chaplygin's inquiry within the Riigikogu (Estonian parliament), as reported by Postimees.

Kallas emphasized that the Russian Federation's war on Ukraine constitutes a stark violation of international law, and that it has the added aim of destabilizing Estonia and its allied nations' security.

“The fact that a person who lives in Estonia decides to obtain Russian Federation citizenship," he said, "at a time when the Russian Federation attacks the Ukrainian state and people, indicates that, if necessary, within the framework of mobilization, [this person] is ready to join the Russian army and participate in attacks on Ukraine. This is already a threat to the security of the Republic of Estonia and a very clear signal that the Estonian state cannot ignore.”

In November, Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets revealed ongoing government efforts to explore deportation measures for individuals opting for Russian citizenship. Following this, Deputy Alexander Chaplygin sought clarification from the Prime Minister regarding the legal basis for such actions. Kallas responded, citing concerns about individuals posing security threats to Estonia.

Kallas continued, “I can assure you that the Minister of the Interior represents the official position of the government, which is based on the security and survival of Estonia... And the revocation of a long-term residence permit is preceded by an individual procedure, during which it is determined by law whether a foreigner poses a threat to public order and security of the Republic of Estonia."

Estonian officials highlighted that the forthcoming measures under consideration will not impact current residents holding Russian passports. With the country's prohibition on dual citizenship, the impending restrictions target individuals in Estonia formerly associated with the USSR who haven't obtained citizenship, as reported by Radio Liberty. As of January 2023, over 64,000 former USSR citizens without Estonian citizenship reside in Estonia, comprising 4.7% of the population.

You Might Also Like

Laughter Amid Tears
  • July 18, 2023

Laughter Amid Tears

The Pro-Ukrainian Twitter collective NAFO held its first-ever summit in Vilnius.
Tanks but No Tanks
  • August 21, 2022

Tanks but No Tanks

The Estonian city of Narva, on the Russian border, quietly dismantled a Soviet memorial featuring a T-34 tank.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 
The Little Golden Calf

The Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
How Russia Got That Way

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

The Little Humpbacked Horse (bilingual)

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
The Latchkey Murders

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...
At the Circus (bilingual)

At the Circus (bilingual)

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955