Russia Declares Estonian PM ‘wanted’

Russia declared Estonian leader Kaja Kallas and several other European officials as “wanted” on Tuesday over their alleged involvement in the destruction of Soviet-era war memorials.

The monuments, some commemorating the Red Army, stirred controversy in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, were seen by many as symbols of their time under Soviet occupation.

The Baltic states began removing some in response to Russia’s full-scale assault on Ukraine in 2022, triggering Moscow’s outrage.

Kallas and other officials appeared on Russia’s interior ministry’s wanted list, linked to the “destruction of monuments to Soviet soldiers,” said Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

“Crimes against the memory of the liberators of the world from Nazism and fascism must be punished. And this is just the beginning,” she added.

Kallas, a vocal critic of Russia and its Ukraine offensive, called the move unsurprising, stating, “Their scare tactics won’t change our actions.”

Among those added were Karol Nawrocki, head of Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance, and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys.

Kairys criticized Russia’s decision, stating, “The regime is trying to stifle freedom and continue to create its own version at odds with facts or logic.”

The move signals further deterioration in Russia’s relations with the Baltic states, all EU and NATO members.

The Kremlin accused those listed of taking “hostile actions” against Russia’s historical memory.

Russia downgraded its diplomatic relations with Estonia in January 2023, alleging “total Russophobia.”

All three Baltic states expelled Russian diplomats amid tensions over Ukraine.

Their relations with Moscow have remained tense since gaining independence, viewing the Soviet Union as an occupying power.

While the Soviet-era monuments had long been sensitive, Russia’s assault on Ukraine fueled efforts for their removal.

The conflict raised fears of armed confrontation, prompting the Baltic states to boost military spending and strengthen border defenses.

All three have sizeable Russian minorities.

Source: (Vanguard)

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