Estonian PM backs deportation of those who obtain Russian citizenship

Kaja Kallas, Prime Minister of Estonia, has backed discussions about the possibility of deporting people who obtain Russian citizenship.

Source: European Pravda, citing Postimees

Details: Public debate in Estonia about the possibility of deporting people who obtain Russian citizenship began in early November, when Minister of Internal Affairs Lauri Läänemets said that he was seeking legal mechanisms to do this.

This applies to citizens of the former USSR who were living in Estonia when the Soviet Union collapsed and never obtained any other citizenship.

Aleksandr Tšaplõgin, a centrist MP, then questioned the legality of such ideas and asked whether the interior minister’s position was the position of the government in general.

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas confirmed that Läänemets' statement aligns with the official position of the Estonian government.

Kallas reminded MPs that modern Russia has violated all possible principles of international law and has been designated a state supporter of terrorism by Estonia and the Council of Europe, and in these circumstances, Tallinn cannot ignore the risks for itself.

She noted that Russia has regularly rehearsed combat operations against the Baltic states during military exercises, has continued to turn its population against Western countries, and has begun to orchestrate an artificial migration crisis on the eastern borders of the EU.

In the prime minister’s opinion, if someone who has lived in Estonia for a long time with free access to information now accepts Russian citizenship, that is a signal that cannot be ignored.

Quote: "If a person who has lived in Estonia decides to obtain Russian citizenship now, when Russia is waging a war against the Ukrainian state and people, this is evidence that if necessary, this person is prepared to join the ranks of the Russian army and fight against Ukraine as part of the mobilisation. That is a threat to the security of Estonia," Kallas said.

In her opinion, a decision to obtain Russian citizenship should be investigated as a statement of support for Russia’s terrorist activities and its actions directed against Estonia and other Western countries.

Kallas noted that under Estonian law, a foreign citizen’s long-term residence permit can be revoked if this person threatens national security.

Background:

• Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna has warned Estonians against signing "declarations of loyalty" to Russia, which Moscow now requires for entry, because doing so could have serious consequences for such a person in Estonia.
• In addition, Estonia has once again warned its citizens against "any travel" to Russia because of the risk of temporary border closures.

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