Ukraina kardab Venemaa vägede sissetungi

(ERR)

“Moskva viis sõjajõud uude baasi, mis asub 240 kilomeetri kaugusel Ukraina piirist. Ukraina kardab Venemaa sõjalist pealetungi. "Venemaa on Ukraina piirialadele koondanud umbes 25 000 sõjaväelast," ütles eelmisel nädalal Ukraina sõjaväe ülemjuhataja Ruslan Khomchak.”

https://www.err.ee/1608171925/ukraina-kardab-venemaa-vagede-sissetungi

Võimalik, et Venemaal õnnestub suurendada sõjalist kohalolu Valgevenes

(Postimees)

“Meie idanaaber on huvitatud oma sõjalise jalajälje laiendamisest ning üritab tekitada endale uusi geopoliitilisi sõpru, kirjutab kaitseväe luurekeskuse endine ülem kolonel Kaupo Rosin.”

https://arvamus.postimees.ee/7219631/kaupo-rosin-vene-sojavaebaasid-piiri-taga-diktaatorite-parimad-sobrad

COVID cases in the Baltics 

- 677 in Estonia

- 658 in Latvia

- 1,155 in Lithuania

(BNN - 9. April)

https://bnn-news.com/latest-covid-19-cases-in-baltics-658-in-latvia-1-155-in-lithuania-677-in-estonia-223758

“Koroonaviiruse andmestik.” - Eesti Terviseamet

“Ööpäevaga lisandus 677 uut nakatunut, suri 16 inimest.” - Postimees

“Haiglate täituvus koroonapatsientidega on langenud 60 protsendile.” - ERR

“Estonia's elderly coronavirus vaccination rate lags behind Europe.” - ERR

“Kaljulaid süüdistab vaktsineerimiskorralduse läbikukkumises eelmist valitsust.” - Õhtuleht

“Finland’s Covid Exit strategy.” - Yle

“Sweden’s Pandemic Experiment: How has it fared?” - The New Yorker

“German’s health minister defies EU by saying he wants Russia to supply Sputnik vaccine.” - The Guardian

“Half of Finns want to continue working from home after pandemic.” - Yle

— Friday 9. April —

The Sound Of Rattling Sabers

By Steve Gutterman, RFERL

“Military movements and bellicose talk on state TV raise concerns about the Kremlin’s intentions regarding Ukraine again, seven years after the seizure of Crimea and the start of a war in the Donbas. “

—

“Russian forces are on the move around Donbas and into Crimea, and the unsettling thing for the outside world is that we don’t know why,” author and analyst Mark Galeotti wrote in an article published by BNE Intellinews on April 6.”

—

“One cause for concern is the fact that in 2014, few predicted that Russia would seize Crimea and push into eastern Ukraine …”

https://www.rferl.org/a/week-in-russia-gutterman-ukraine-navalny/31194698.html

The Guns of April: Six Questions About the Russia-Ukraine Situation

(RFERL)

“Train convoys of heavy Russian military equipment, seen on multiple videos on social media, reportedly shipping from Siberia to the border regions of Ukraine. The Kerch Strait Bridge to the occupied Crimean Peninsula shut down briefly, apparently for a major shipment of weaponry. An uptick in shelling along the line of control separating Ukrainian forces from Russia-backed fighters in eastern Ukraine. Ominous rhetoric on Russian state TV. Is the Ukrainian-Russian "cold war" about to go “hot"?"

https://www.rferl.org/a/six-questions-russia-ukraine-military-buildup/31191350.html

“Russia won’t stop threatening Ukraine until it believes that Ukraine doesn’t pose a future threat to the current regime in Russia.” - BNE

“Ukraine's Zelenskiy on Frontline as Merkel Urges Putin to Pull Back Troops.” - The Moscow Times

“Invading Ukraine Now Could Spark Protests that Would Threaten Putin Regime.” - Paul Goble

“Ukraine Targeted At European Court In Hail Of Claims From Russia.” - RFERL

“Lt-Gen Ben Hodges on the Future of Hybrid Warfare.” - CEPA

Välisminister Liimetsa telefonikõne Vene välisminister Sergei Lavroviga

(Postimees)

“Eesti ja Venemaa on naabrid ja seetõttu tuleb meil teineteisega suhelda. Olgugi et meil on omavahel erimeelsusi ning meie arvamused lahknevad paljudes küsimustes. Telefonikõnes tõstatasin olulise kahepoolsete suhete teemana 2014. aastal meie riikide vahel sõlmitud piirilepingu ratifitseerimise küsimuse, millega Eesti ametis olev valitsus on avaldanud valmisolekut edasi liikuda. Jõustunud piirileping annab Eestile ja meie liitlastele väga olulise kindluse.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7221446/liimets-telefonikones-lavrovile-olukord-ida-ukrainas-valmistab-muret

Belarus opposition splits as leaders form new parties

(Politico-Europe)

“… with Pavel Latushko, a former diplomat and minister now in exile, announcing the formation of a new political party on Thursday. The party doesn’t yet have a name, but it signals that the broad front created by opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya is divided after months of fruitless protests aimed at removing authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko from power.”

https://www.politico.eu/article/belarus-opposition-new-party-alexander-lukshenko-sviatlana-tikhanovskaya/

Paloma Krõõt Tupay: kas oleme politseiriigi loomise lävel

(ERR)

“Kas nakkushaiguste ennetamise ja tõrje seaduse (NETS) muudatus seab aluse totalitaarse riigikorra sünnile? Ei, seda see ei tee. Kuid samuti ei aita see kaasa selgemale ja kindlamale õiguskorrale, kirjutab õigusteadlane Paloma Krõõt Tupay.”

https://www.err.ee/1608172075/paloma-kroot-tupay-kas-oleme-politseiriigi-loomise-lavel

Ministry of Foreign Affairs is organizing a virtual forum for global Estonians

Tuesday, 13. April 2021

5 p.m. to 7 p.m Tallinn Time

10:00 am to noon New York Time

https://worksup.com/app/#/event/agenda/plan

Or:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-tzP11GRcc

“Estonians abroad should feel they matter to Estonia.”

- Estonian World

— Thursday 8. April —

Backer of Tallinn-Helsinki Tunnel Battles Anti-China Sentiments

(South China Morning Post)

“… in Estonia, political opposition to China is rising fast, and it is percolating through the other Baltic nations of Latvia and Lithuania.”

—

“The tiny trio are at the vanguard of China scepticism in Europe, to the extent that it was no surprise to see their names among a group of 14 nations issuing a joint statement this week calling for an independent analysis and evaluation, free from interference and undue influence, of the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic.”

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3128181/angry-birds-mogul-aims-tunnel-through-baltic-anti-china

“China’s Techno-Authoritarianism Has Gone Global.” - Foreign Affairs

Russia Opens Permanent Training Center in Belarus and Sets Conditions for Permanent Military Basing

(ISW)

“Joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises in March 2021 demonstrated several new Russian capabilities that could support a permanent Russian force presence in Belarus. Russia’s efforts to cement control of Belarusian forces and permanently deploy forces to Belarus increase Russia’s capacity to threaten NATO’s eastern flank. Russia and Belarus announced plans to open three permanent combined combat training centers in Russia and Belarus. The Kremlin is likely increasing Belarus’ military readiness and integration with Russian forces, augmenting the Kremlin’s capability to mobilize more units for longer durations and increasing Russia’s total force projection capability against NATO. Russian military pilots may begin operating out of Belarusian airbases in 2021.”

http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russia-review-russia-opens-permanent-training-center-belarus-and-sets-conditions

“The State of Disunion in Belarus.” - Jamestown Org.

Russian military pilots may begin operating out of Belarusian airbases

(ISW)

“Russian pilots’ access to Belarusian airfields, if achieved, would enhance Russian force projection capabilities against NATO’s eastern flank and constitute a significant threat to the West.”

http://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russia-review-russia-opens-permanent-training-center-belarus-and-sets-conditions

Top Russian official has warned that Moscow could intervene to “help its citizens” in eastern Ukraine

(BBC)

“The official, Dmitry Kozak, told a Moscow conference … "Everything depends on the scale of the conflagration.”

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56678665

“Putin ja Merkel arutasid olukorda Ida-Ukrainas.” - Postimees

“Germany urges Russia to reduce troop presence near Ukraine.”

- Deutsche Welle

“Opinion: Vladimir Putin hedges his bets on Ukraine.” - DW

“Ruble falls heavily on fears of war with Ukraine.” - BNE

Opinion: Poland is stifling free media

(Guardian)

“A planned ‘coronavirus tax’ on revenues and attacks on foreign-owned media threaten to cut away democracy piece by piece.”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/apr/08/covid-poland-democracy-media-europe-coronavirus-tax

It’s Still Hard to Be America’s Ally

(Foreign Policy)

“The (Biden) administration’s new approach is a breath of fresh air after four years of damage and disparagement, but complications will rise to the surface as soon as the honeymoon wears off. Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s gratuitous disputes with allies were self-defeating, but Biden’s welcome celebration of U.S. alliances raises its own set of ambiguities and contradictions. …”

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/04/08/allies-us-europe-nato-trump-biden/

— Wednesday 7. April —

Estonia Imposes Additional Background Checks for e-Residency Program

(Schengen Visa News)

“The new changes have been imposed through a new amendment to the regulation, which has been effective since April 1.”

https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/estonia-imposes-additional-background-checks-for-e-residency-programme-applicants/

Estonia approves biometric database for law enforcement system

(Biometric Update)

“… Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), to increase reliability by compiling data from established biometric databases in a centralized system.”

https://www.biometricupdate.com/202104/estonia-approves-biometric-database-for-law-enforcement-system

Ida-Ukraina jalgealune kuumeneb

(Postimees)

“Analüütik: mai alguseks on kõik valmis Venemaa edasitungiks.”

https://www.postimees.ee/7217874/ida-ukraina-jalgealune-kuumeneb

“War Scare Is Putin’s Natural Element.” - Jamestown Org.

“Are Russia and Ukraine Sliding Into War?” - Carnegie Moscow

“Russians Must Work for Their Country’s Defeat if Putin Launches a New Invasion of Ukraine.” - Window on Eurasia

“Western Public Support For Ukraine Mounts Amid Russian Buildup Near Border.” - RFERL

“Moscow will Be Ready for a War Against Ukraine ‘in a Month.” - Paul Goble

Russia Stages Mass Military Drills as Ukraine Tensions Climb

(Bloomberg)

“More than 4,000 training exercises will be held in military districts across Russia in April, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday, in comments posted on the ministry’s website.”

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-06/russia-stages-mass-military-drills-amid-tensions-with-ukraine

“Министр обороны РФ сообщил о проходящих в Вооруженных Силах плановых контрольных проверках за зимний период обучения.” 

“Вторжение на Украину может пойти по сценарию высадки в Нормандии.”

Ukraine urges NATO to set up membership path

(Deutsche Welle)

“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that a path toward NATO membership was the only way to end the war in Donbass.”

https://www.dw.com/en/ukraine-urges-nato-to-set-up-membership-path/a-57110384

“White House says Ukraine has long aspired to join NATO.” - Reuters

“Ukraine wants to speed up joining NATO to send 'real signal to Russia’.” - Euronews

— Russia —

Putin Signs Law Allowing Him To Stay In Power Until 2036

(Warsaw Institute)

“The recent legal update is of huge political importance as it has sent shockwaves to the Russians and notably the ruling elite that got a strong signal that Putin felt strong while keeping the situation under control.”

https://warsawinstitute.org/putin-signs-law-allowing-stay-power-2036/

Russian Propaganda has Become Indistinguishable from Its Soviet Predecessor

By Paul Goble

“Russian journalist Andrey Loshak’s observation is prompted by comparing what happened with Sakharov at the time of his hunger strike in his Gorky exile in the spring of 1984 and what is happening with Navalny now not only in how the two were treated personally but how their situations were presented to the population.”

http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2021/04/russian-propaganda-has-become.html

“Putin Ignores Protests and Imposes Intellectual Straightjacket on Russians.” - by Paul Goble

Russia is carrying out a “slow-motion assassination” of Alexei Navalny

(Euronews)

“Financier Bill Browder has campaigned against human rights abuses in Russia for more than a decade since his friend and lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky, died in detention in a Moscow prison. … Browder says Navalny is now in the hands of the same authorities who tried to kill him last year. … "It's hard to imagine that Putin can afford to let him live," Browder told Euronews, adding that Magnitsky had been “slowly tortured to death”.

https://www.euronews.com/2021/04/08/alexei-navalny-putin-can-t-afford-to-let-him-live-says-magnitsky-campaigner-bill-browder

“Alexei Navalny 'seriously ill' in prison.” - The Guardian

“Jailed Putin critic Alexei Navalny has spinal hernias.” - CBC

“Kira Yarmysh, Navalny’s spokeswoman, under house arrest.” - RFERL

“Head Of Russian Doctors' Alliance Detained While Seeking To Examine Ailing Navalny.” - RFERL

“Russian police detain supporters of Kremlin critic Navalny outside prison holding him.” - Reuters

“Navalny Case Shows Why Corporal Punishment Should be Restored in Russia, Maria Butina Says.” - Paul Goble

The Perilous Bargains That Keep Putin in Power

(Foreign Affairs)

“For 21 years, Vladimir Putin has reigned supreme over Russian politics. A skillful manipulator of public opinion, he wields the blunt force of repression against opponents at home and the sharp power of cyber-operations and espionage campaigns against enemies abroad. Increasingly, Western analysts and officials portray him as all-powerful, a ruthless former KGB man …”

—

“But if Putin is unrivaled at home, he is not omnipotent. Like all autocrats, he faces the dual threats of a coup from elites around him and a popular revolt from below. And because of the compromises he has had to make to consolidate his personal control over the state, Putin’s tools for balancing the competing goals of rewarding elites who might otherwise conspire against him and appeasing the public are becoming less and less effective.”

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/russia-fsu/2021-04-01/vladimir-putin-russias-weak-strongman

“Putin on Democracy.” - Riddle

“Putin Era Increasingly Resembles Stalin’s 1937 in an Important and Dangerous Way.”  Window on Eurasia

“Putin signs law allowing him two more terms as Russia's leader.” - Euronews

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