Estonia ready for 'migration spillover' after Finland closed their border
(Euronews)
“Finland’s decision to close all border crossings on its eastern border may not necessarily mean that the migration pressure from Russia will automatically spill over to our border crossings or the green border," said Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets in a statement to Euronews. "But we definitely consider that a likely scenario, so we’ve made all preparations in case of a migration spillover to Estonian borders or border points."
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“The interior minister said no more migrant groups had arrived at Estonia's north-eastern Narva border crossing over the past week, though added the country "must be prepared for a scenario when the spillover from Finland reaches directly our south-eastern green border.” Green border refers to natural, wooded areas where there aren't formal crossing points.”
“Estonia could close Russian border in face of hybrid attack.” - Politico
30 Migrants From Somalia & Syria Denied Entry at Estonian-Russian Border - Schengen Visa Info
“Venemaa saadab ebaseaduslikult Eestisse tulla üritanud süürlased riigist välja.” - Postimees
“Joosep Kaasik: muu Euroopa, kel puudub Venemaaga piir, ei adu ränderünnaku olemust.” - Postimees
Estonia accuses Russia of weaponising immigration at Europe’s borders
(Estonian World Review | The Guardian)
“Speaking during a meeting in Stockholm of Nordic and Baltic defence ministers, Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s defence minister, claimed the hundreds of people who had arrived at the borders of the two countries in recent weeks were a ‘fully state-orchestrated’ operation by Moscow.”
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Estonia Warns It’s Citizens Against Any Travel to Russia
(Postimees | The Moscow Times)
“… stressing that if Estonia closes its border with Russia, those on the other side will not be able to return to Estonia.”
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Russia drafts law obliging foreigners to sign ‘loyalty agreement’ to enter Russia
(Novaya Gazeta)
“By signing the agreement, foreigners will effectively be agreeing ‘to comply with the prohibitions established to protect national interests’, which include refraining from “discrediting” Russian policies … ”
Venemaa hakkab sinna reisivatelt välismaalastelt nõudma lojaalsusvannet
(ERR)
“Lepingu tingimus on hoiduda kritiseerimast Vene võimude ametlikku poliitikat.”
EstoNews on-line:
https://estonewsoftheweek.blogspot.com/
Dropbox Archive:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1kvd04gtar6ty2b/AADCUK2J_RXcMyIYf_sjnAwoa?dl=0
Cover Photo:
https://pood.omniva.ee/et/45-postmargid
Friday 1. December
Eestlased on valmis maksma kliimamakse, aga ei usu rohepöördesse
Ülle Harju, Postimees
“Maheda kliimaga Eesti on tüürimas Euroopa kallimate, mitte aga rikkamate riikide sekka, mistõttu avaldasid eestlased üleeuroopalises kliimaküsitluses radikaalseid seisukohti.”
—
“Eestlaste seisukohad erinevad mitmes küsimuses oluliselt teiste Euroopa riikide inimeste omadest, selgus 28. novembril avaldatud Euroopa Investeerimispanga (EIP) küsitlusest. Iga-aastane küsitlus viidi läbi tänavu augustis ja septembris.”
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“Küsitluse tulemuste järgi tunduvad Eesti inimestele kliimamuutused – sagenevad põuad, uputused, tormid, kuumalained jne – vähetähtsad ning Eesti inimesed ei soovi ka aidata nende tõttu kannatavaid lõunamaade rahvaid.”
Estonians demand a fair climate transition at home but oppose financial compensation for developing countries
(European Investment Bank)
“After another challenging year marked not only by inflation but also by record heatwaves and droughts, Estonians are still not seriously concerned about the profound impact of climate change and the need for immediate action, according to the results of the EIB Climate Survey. While the rising cost of living is considered the number one challenge for Estonians (79% of respondents place it in the top three concerns for their country, 11 points above the EU average), followed by income inequalities (43%) and political instability (39%), climate change impacts and environmental degradation only come in sixth position, with only 26% of respondents considering them a major concern (24 points below the EU average of 50%).”
 |
| Kallas participated in a COP28 panel discussion |
Putin’s War in Ukraine, Finland’s Accession to NATO, and Rail Baltica
By Paul Goble
“Although Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have been de facto independent for more than three decades, the three are still integrated into two Russian-dominated projects that are a hangover from the period of Soviet occupation: integration into a broader energy network (BRELL) and a railway gauge at odds with European standards.”
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“The Baltic countries are committed to escaping both, and Putin’s war in Ukraine and Finland’s accession to NATO have added new impetus to doing so, with the three declaring they will leave BRELL by 2025 and increase efforts to complete Rail Baltica, which will include changing the gauge of rail there from Russian to European ones by the end of the decade.”
—
“Up to now, Estonia and Latvia have not laid a single kilometer of European standard rail, while Lithuania has put down 128 kilometers.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2023/12/putins-war-in-ukraine-and-finlands.html
Estonia hosted NATO’s flagship cyber defence exercise ‘Cyber Coalition’
By Silver Tambur, Estonian World
“The exercise is based on challenging, realistic scenarios that help prepare cyber defenders for real-life cyber challenges – including attacks on critical national infrastructure, as well as disruption of NATO and allied assets while on operations.”
https://estonianworld.com/security/estonia-hosts-natos-flagship-cyber-defence-exercise/
“NATO’s flagship cyber exercise concludes in Estonia.” - NATO
Kallas läks ühispildile Lukašenkaga, Läti, Leedu ja Poola boikoteerisid
(Postimees | ERR | Delfi)
“Tagareas seisnud Kallas ei näinud Lukašenka ühispildile saabumist.”
—
https://www.postimees.ee/7910008/tagareas-seisnud-kallas-ei-nainud-lukasenka-uhispildile-saabumist
—
https://www.err.ee/1609182199/kaja-kallas-ei-keeldunud-dubais-uhisfotost-lukasenkoga
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Ukraine's victory is an existential issue not only for the Baltics
(Baltic Times)
“… but also for the West, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said at the 29th Baltic Council meeting in Tallinn on Friday. ‘In 2024, we will have to continue devoting a lot of time and effort to managing crises and preventing their consequences and aftermath. But even worse scenarios are possible, which could directly affect the security of the Baltic states. Today, they no longer seem unrealistic,’ Lithuania's top diplomat said.”
“Estonian and Latvian defence industry: key takeaways for small states.” - Lithuanian Tribune
Thursday 30. November
Priit Vesilind, writer for National Geographic magazine, dead at 80
(Washington Post, 22. Nov.)
“As a child during World War II, Priit Vesilind escaped Nazi-occupied Estonia with his family ahead of an advancing Soviet army bent on recapturing their homeland and dragging it back into the U.S.S.R. … Years later, as a senior writer and editor for National Geographic magazine, Mr. Vesilind slipped back into Estonia on one of a series of trips to chronicle life behind the Iron Curtain. … on a tourist visa in 1980, followed by trips to other realms of the Soviet bloc.”
—
“Those journeys not only helped Americans understand the plight of inhabitants of the Baltic states, but also offered a glimmer of hope to those citizens. His April 1980 piece, “Return to Estonia,” was passed around clandestinely in his Soviet-occupied homeland, inspiring Estonians by capturing their aspirations for freedom.”
Or:
Estonia's economic downturn accelerated
(Postimees | Bloomberg)
“The gross domestic product (GDP) of Estonia for the third quarter of 2023 decreased by 3.9 percent compared with the same quarter of 2022 to 9.4 billion euros at current prices, Statistics Estonia said on Thursday.”
https://news.postimees.ee/7908802/estonia-s-economic-downturn-accelerated-again-in-q3
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Putin sees Finland as the next Crimea
(Unherd)
“For the second time in as many years, the Kremlin is deliberately fomenting a refugee crisis. … Russian authorities have been forcibly pushing hundreds of migrants and refugees towards Finland’s eastern frontier. Yesterday, as a result, the Finnish government sealed its entire border with Russia, with Estonia threatening to do the same. …”
—
“Nearly two years into his war in Ukraine, these actions play a key role in supporting Putin’s fear-based domestic propaganda narratives. By pitting the encroaching threat of Nato against the livelihood of Russia’s public, he can justify the gradual reorientation of its society and economy towards a semi-permanent war-footing. At the strategic level, the move is also part of a broader vision of Russia’s geopolitical future, and its conception of competing hegemonies in northern and eastern Europe.”
https://unherd.com/2023/11/putin-sees-finland-as-the-next-crimea/
Finland's Border Shuts Down
(Yle)
“… with asylum applications being accepted only at harbours and airports. Crossing points on the border with Russia are closed for two weeks, until December 13. Interior Minister Mari Rantanen said that the decision to close all border crossings can be extended if the situation requires it.”
"This may be just the beginning: the guards at Finland’s closed Russian border.” - The Guardian
“We don't accept any attempt to undermine our national security," said Finnish PM Petteri Orpo.” - Yle
“34 Migrants Reach Finland’s Vartius Border Point Few Hours Before Its Closure.” - Schengen Visa Info
“Finnish consensus on NATO and EU membership at all-time high.” - Helsinki Times
“Don’t Forget the People Russia Weaponizes in Finland Border Crisis.” - Moscow Times
European organization worries about ‘Project 2025’
By Wendy Via and Heidi Beirich
(European Interest)
“Our organization, the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, has done a deep-dive analysis into Project 2025 and identified how the plan threatens Americans’ civil and human rights, and is an attack on its very democracy.”
—
“Project 2025 supporter ADF and its global arm, Alliance Defending Freedom International (ADFI), has strong international ties and is well known … Despite its hateful platforms, ADFI is accredited and uses its collective influence at the UN, EU, Council of Europe, OSCE, European Court of Human Rights, and other international bodies.”
https://www.europeaninterest.eu/project-2025-a-threat-to-global-democracies/
“GPAHE's Report on Project 2025.”
Wednesday 29. November
Läänemerel alustab Ühendekspeditsiooniväe missioon
(Postimees)
“Läänemeri on muutumas NATO sisemereks ja Venemaa peab saama vastava sõnumi. Suurbritannia fregatt julgestab taas meie tagalat, nagu tegid britid Vabadussõjas.”
https://arvamus.postimees.ee/7908427/juhtkiri-nato-naitab-laanemerel-musklit
“20 sõjalaeva hakkavad kaitsma Läänemere taristut.” - ERR
Warships, aircraft from 6 countries to protect the Baltic Sea region
(Postimees)
“Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden and the United Kingdom will contribute to the Baltic Sea region with their various capabilities, which include patrol ships, frigates, maritime patrol aircraft, helicopters and minesweepers, spokespeople for the Estonian Ministry of Defense told BNS. The British frigate HMS Richmond will provide force protection for Estonian and Finnish vessels. The Estonian Navy will contribute two patrol vessels.”
https://news.postimees.ee/7908404/warships-aircraft-from-6-countries-to-protect-baltic-sea-region
Estonia’s FM Tsahkna: Lavrov belongs at a special tribunal for war crimes instead of the OSCE table
(European Interest)
“Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna strongly condemned the decision to allow Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to attend the meeting of the OSCE’s Ministerial Council in Skopje.”
—
“Russia will use this opportunity to spread its propaganda and undermine the unity of the West. The fact is that while the OSCE meeting is being held in Skopje, Russia’s war machine is attacking innocent Ukrainians and deporting children without blinking an eye.”
‘Smoke Sauna Sisterhood’ Review
(Hollywood Reporter)
“Estonia’s Oscar submission is the debut feature by Anna Hints, who won the directing award in Sundance’s World Cinema Documentary Competition.”
Vladimir Putin tõstab Venemaa sõjalised kulutused NSVL-i tasemele
(ERR)
“Venemaa režiimi juht Vladimir Putin kiitis heaks 2024. aasta kaitse-eelarve ning sõjalised kulutused moodustavad ligi kolmandiku järgmise aasta kogukuludest. Viimati kulutas Moskva sõjaväele nii palju raha, kui Kremlis lehvis punane lipp. Riigieelarve võeti Venemaa riigiduumas vastu 17. novembril, puudu aga oli veel Putini allkiri. Hiljuti kiitis Putin eelarve heaks ja Moskva kulutab järgmisel aastal "riigikaitsele" 10,7 triljonit rubla (umbes 110 miljardit eurot). Anton Siluanov kommentaar meenutab NSVL-i aegsete propagandistide juttu, "kõik rinde jaoks, kõik võidu nimel".
https://www.err.ee/1609179067/putin-tostab-venemaa-sojalised-kulutused-nsvl-i-tasemele
60 % of Russian Families with Children Cannot Afford Refrigerators, TVs
By Paul Goble
“… and thus know that if they choose to have even one child let alone two or more, even with current levels of government support, they are likely to see their families slip into poverty.”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2023/11/60-percent-of-russian-families-with.html
Tuesday 28. November
Venemaa vetostas Eesti saamise OSCE eesistujaks, Balti riigid ja Ukraina boikoteerivad OSCE kohtumist
(Estonian World Review)
“Balti riikide välisministrid teatasid teisipäeval tehtud ühisavalduses, et ei osale neljapäeval Skopjes algaval Euroopa Julgeoleku- ja Koostööorganisatsiooni (OSCE) ministrite nõukogul, kuna sinna tuleb kohale ka Venemaa välisminister Sergei Lavrov. Boikotiga ühines ka Ukraina välisminister.”
“Balti välisministrid jätavad Lavrovi osaluse tõttu OSCE kohtumisele minemata.” - Postimees
“Erkki Bahovski: OSCE tegeleb teadusliku fantastika, mitte reaalsusega.” Postimees Arvamus
Ukraine, Baltic nations to boycott OSCE meeting over Russia's Lavrov attending
(Reuters | VOA | Barrons)
“It would be the first time Lavrov takes part in a meeting of the OSCE since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, prompting sweeping Western sanctions.”
—
—
Russia trying to paint Estonia as an unfriendly state - Interior minister
(Baltic Times)
“A video recorded by the Russian Border Guard Service, showing the return of a group of migrants before reaching the Narva border checkpoint, is circulating in Russian media and social media with the aim of demonizing Estonia in the eyes of Russians as an unfriendly and closed country, according to Estonian Minister of the Interior Lauri Laanemets.”
—
"This is a simple hybrid warfare tactic and information operation, with which the Russian border service deliberately tries to provoke incidents at our border point, film them, and then use the recordings for their propaganda purposes.”
Estonia, Finland want to investigate New-New Polar Bear vessel in China
(Baltic Times)
“Estonia and Finland want to send their representatives to China to investigate the main suspect of the damaging of the underwater infrastructure in the Gulf of Finland, the ship NewNew Polar Bear, the daily Postimees writes. An initial positive signal from China is said to have been received, but in general the situation is still vague and the details still need to be negotiated. …”
https://www.baltictimes.com/estonia__finland_want_to_investigate_newnew_polar_bear_vessel_in_china/
Neutral Malta to chair OSCE after Moscow blocks NATO member Estonia
(Reuters | Politico Europe)
“The 57 member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe agreed on Monday that Malta should take over the organization's rotating chairmanship after Russia barred Estonia from the job, officials said.”
“Estonia 'not opposing' Malta as OSCE chair.” - ERR
NATO Leaders Try to Pin Down U.S. on Ukraine Aid as Republicans Waver
(New York Times)
“Continued American funding for Ukraine was a key concern for leaders in the military alliance, who met as the current allocation was running down and a Ukrainian counteroffensive appeared stalled.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/28/world/europe/nato-leaders-ukraine-congress.html
Or:
Valgevene ühiskond teel demokraatiast diktatuuri ja tagasi
Tetjana Fedosjuk, Diplomaatia
“Valgevene demokraatlik opositsioon on ikka veel killustunud. Neil on küll ühine visioon Lukašenka-järgsest vabast Valgevenest, ent napib konkreetsust. Kuniks pole tekkinud ühtsusrinnet, ei tule praegusest võimuladvikust keegi üle. Killustatus takistab ka Euroopa Liidu toetuse tugevnemist, leidis Riia konverentsil antud intervjuus Diplomaatile professor Elena Korosteleva.”
https://diplomaatia.ee/elena-korosteleva-valgevene-uhiskond-teel-demokraatiast-diktatuuri-ja-tagasi/
Peoplehood in Belarus: from Democracy to Dictatorship and Back
Tetjana Fedosjuk, Diplomaatia
“The democratic opposition in Belarus is still fragmented. While they do share a common vision of a post-Lukashenko free Belarus, there is a lack of specificity. Until there’s a united front, no one is likely to overcome the current authority. Fragmentation also hinders the strengthening of the support of the European Union, Professor Elena Korosteleva found in an interview given to Diplomaatia magazine at the Riga Conference.”
https://icds.ee/en/peoplehood-in-belarus-from-democracy-to-dictatorship-and-back/
- Russia’s Forever War -
Polling in Russia is questionable,but reportedly: “A recent Russian opinion poll indicates that the number of Russians who fully support the war in Ukraine has almost halved since February 2023 and that more Russians support a withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine than do not.“ - as per ISW
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-30-2023
Kaitseväe luureülem: Venemaa eelarve lubab sõda samas mahus jätkata
(ERR)
“Venemaa president Vladimir Putin kinnitas sel nädalal riigi järgmise aasta sõjalise eelarve ning järgmiste aastate eelarvekava, mis annavad tunnistust, et riik suudab jätkata sõda Ukrainas samas mahus kui praegu, ütles kaitseväe luurekeskuse ülem kolonel Ants Kiviselg. Sõjategevuses Ukrainas suuremaid muutusi nädalaga ei toimunud.”
https://www.err.ee/1609182163/kaitsevae-luureulem-venemaa-eelarve-lubab-soda-samas-mahus-jatkata
Russia’s Propaganda Army Lives On
(Novaya Gazeta)
“Russia’s army of pro-regime “trolls” on the country’s main social media site VK continues to grow, and their ranks are increasingly made up of real people rather than bots. A data investigation by Novaya Gazeta Europe has found that over 600,000 pro-war posts made on the site were written by state sector employees following official guidelines. … According to the most accurate estimates, almost half of the posts (616,000, or 45%) were copied, i.e. the text was word-for-word identical to at least two other posts.”
https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2023/11/24/smoke-and-mirrors-en
Putin’s Deal With Wife Killers
By Anna Nemtsova, The Atlantic
“President Vladimir Putin has undermined the country’s already patchy justice system by pardoning even the worst of sentenced murderers if they agree to go and murder more in Ukraine. After serving in the mercenary Wagner Group or so-called Storm-Z units of convicts on the Ukrainian front, killers and thieves return to Russia, where they go free. …”
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2023/11/russia-pardon-convicted-murderers/676159/
Russian Offensive Campaign
Assessment: 29. & 30. Nov.
(ISW)
“The apparent Russian failure to establish a cohesive command structure among forces defending on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast continues to degrade Russian morale and combat capabilities.”
—
“The Russian “Dnepr” Grouping of Forces is increasingly comprised of disparate elements of recently transferred and degraded units and new formations, which may be contributing to this apparent lack of cohesive command structure.”
—
“Russian officials proposed laws that would restrict the actions of foreign citizens in Russia, likely to support continued efforts to coerce migrants into Russian military service.”
—
“A recent Russian opinion poll indicates that the number of Russians who fully support the war in Ukraine has almost halved since February 2023 and that more Russians support withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine than do not.“
—
“The Russian war in Ukraine has created new social tensions and exacerbated existing ones within Russia, which remain highly visible in the Russian information space despite ongoing Kremlin censorship efforts.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-29-2023
—
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-30-2023
“To Pay for Ukraine War, Moscow Slashes Funding for Infrastructure Repairs.” - Paul Goble
“Putin’s Boost in Military Spending Puts Russia at Risk of a Collapse Like That of the 1990s.” - Paul Goble
Ukrainian spy agency reportedly targeted Russian railway in Siberia
(TVP)
“Ukraine’s domestic spy agency has detonated explosives on a Russian railway line deep in Siberia, the second attack this week on military supply routes in the area … The incidents appear to show Kyiv’s readiness and ability to conduct sabotage attacks deep inside Russia and disrupt Russian logistics far from the front lines of Moscow’s 21-month-old war in Ukraine.”
https://tvpworld.com/74475050/ukrainian-spy-agency-targets-russian-railway-in-siberia-report
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