Putin is a warlord now, wants to get back all USSR colonies - Estonian FM
(Economic Times, India - 23. Feb.)
“During a panel discussion at the Raisina Dialogue in Delhi, Margus Tsahkna, the Foreign Minister of Estonia, addressed the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. He cautioned against Russian aggression and its potential impact on democracies around the world.”
“We can expect that within the next decade, NATO will face a Soviet-style mass army that, while technologically inferior to the allies, poses a significant threat due to its size, firepower and reserves,” Kaupo Rosin, Director General of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, wrote as part of an annual intelligence assessment released this month.” - Militarnyi
“Kallas: Our and the world's worries can be summed up in one word - war.” - The Baltic Times
“NATO Must Consider Every Option to Help Ukraine Defeat Russia.” - Newsweek
“Everything on table to help Ukraine beat Putin, Estonian PM says.” - Politio
“All of Europe has 'skin in the game' in Ukraine war - Estonian PM.” - BBC
“Estonia’s Kaja Kallas on war, Trump and European defense.” - Podcast
“Moscow wants to arrest Estonia’s leader.” - Veridica
Alexey Navalny laid to rest
(Meduza | Novaya Gazeta |Moscow Times)
“Alexey Navalny was laid to rest in Moscow’s Borisovskoye cemetery on Friday. Thousands of mourners came out to pay their respects at his burial ceremony and his funeral at the Church of the Icon of Our Lady Soothe My Sorrows.”
https://meduza.io/en/feature/2024/03/01/it-feels-like-it-s-russia-s-funeral
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https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/03/01/in-photos-alexei-navalnys-memorial-and-funeral-a84303
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https://novayagazeta.eu/articles/2024/03/01/alexey-navalnys-funeral-is-taking-place-in-moscow-en
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| People lining up near the church in Moscow where Navalny's memorial was held. Team Navalny / Telegram |
Navalnõi toetajad saatsid reedel opositsioonijuhi viimsele teele
(ERR | Delfi)
“Veel reede ennelõunal teatas Navalnõi meeskond, et Kreml pole andnud Navalnõi surnukeha sugulastele üle. Hiljem andsid võimud Navalnõi surnukeha omastele üle ja auto surnukehaga liikus kiriku suunas. Pärastlõunal maeti Navalnõi surnukeha Borissovo kalmistul Moskvas.”
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“Kirik asub linnaosas, kus Navalnõi elas enne mürgitamist. Navalnõi liitlane teatas reede ennelõunal, et kiriku juurde on kogunenud üle tuhande inimese, vahendas Reuters. Navalnõi matustele tulid ka USA ja Prantsuse suursaadik Venemaal. Kui surnukehaga kirst jõudis kohapeale, hakkasid kohalviibijad skandeerima loosungeid "Navalnõi!", "Ei sõjale!", "Putin on mõrtsukas!" ja "Venemaa saab vabaks!”
https://www.err.ee/1609269168/navalnoi-toetajad-saatsid-reedel-opositsioonijuhi-viimsele-teele
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Friday 1. March
Venemaa plaanib suurendada sõjalist jõudu Soome piiri juures
(ERR)
“Soome kaitsejõudude erukolonelleitnant ja Riigikaitse Ülikooli (MPKK) teadur Vladimir Panschin võttis vaatluse alla Soome piiri taga paiknevad Vene väed ning kirjutas, et Moskva tahab seal suurendada oma vägede arvu kümnete tuhandete sõdurite võrra. Venemaa loob lääne sõjaväeringkonna asemele kaks väeliikide-ülest strateegilist territoriaalset moodustist, nendeks saavad olema Moskva ja Leningradi sõjaväeringkond. … kui Venemaa suudab oma plaanid ellu viia, siis suureneb oluliselt Vene vägede hulk Soome piiri lähistel.”
https://www.err.ee/1609269102/ekspert-venemaa-plaanib-suurendada-sojalist-joudu-soome-piiri-juures
Russia Reorganizes Military Districts
By: Pavel Luzin, - Jamestown Org.
“On March 1, the Leningrad and Moscow military districts were re-established in place of the Western Military District, which first appeared in 2010 and has since been dismantled. Additionally, the Southern Military District was expanded within the occupied territories of Ukraine. The Northern Fleet lost its status as a military district. Moscow has presented two primary purposes for the reconstruction of Russia’s military administrative division, which was first announced as early as December 2022. Both seek to galvanize Russian forces to continue fighting in Ukraine and prepare for future campaigns and mobilization.”
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“… the formation of the Leningrad Military District with the subordination of the ground forces of the Northern Fleet to the newly reformed district means that Russia is returning to the idea of war on and beyond its northwestern borders. Russia is thinking seriously about a combat operation in the Baltic region.”
https://jamestown.org/program/russia-reorganizes-military-districts/
A lengthy list of royalty and politicians who have roots in Estonia
(ERR)
“The list of ties to Estonia mostly concerns Europe's Royal families: The bloodlines of Britain's King Charles III, along with those of King Frederik X of Denmark, Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Harald V of Norway and of King Philippe of Belgium all stretch as far as Estonia.”
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“Finland's new president, Alexander Stubb, may primarily be of Finnish-Swedish origin, he also has surprisingly extensive Estonian roots. Not just via one bloodline, but across dozens. He is a descendant of people from Estonia on both his father's and mother's side.”
Hanah Lahe: Estonia’s youngest MP already making waves
(The Guardian | ERR)
“Hanah Lahe is just 24 but she is already a leading voice for change in the Baltic state. … Estonia’s youngest MP grew up surfing the web and consuming American television. … It has been nearly a year since Lahe, representing the liberal Reform party of the prime minister, Kaja Kallas, was elected an MP, and in that time she has emerged as one of the Baltic country’s most outspoken, energetic and interesting politicians. She landed her first big victory within months of her election, at just 23, when she led the fight to legislate marriage equality.”
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“My generation’s heart aches for Ukraine, not because we lived through a war, but because we have the negative imprint of Russian invasion from our heritage. It matters to everyone who is Estonian how things are going in Ukraine,” says Lahe. She is clear: Ukrainian victory is the only path to securing Europe: “There really isn’t any other option.”
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/28/estonia-youngest-mp-hanah-lahe-interview
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https://news.err.ee/1609268937/uk-daily-reform-party-s-trailblazing-riigikogu-member
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| 24 year old Hanah Lahe |
Thursday 29. February
Mull lõhkeb? Kirjaneni suurtehase kohal kõrgub rasvane küsimärk
Ülle Harju, Marek Strandberg
(Postimees)
“Erinevad infokillud on koondunud kahtluseks, et puidutööstur Raul Kirjanenil ei paista tasuvat ehitada suurt puidukeemiatehast ei Eestisse ega Lätti. Seda patendiprobleemi, tootmise hinna ja kogu biotootmise kohale kerkinud mustade pilvede tõttu. Kirjanen ise kinnitab jätkuvalt, et tema plaanid peavad vett.”
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“Fibenoli tootearenduse aluseks oleva, lehtpuust ligniini ja puidusuhkrute tootmisprotsessi olulisim Euroopa patent on tühistatud ja USAs on patent n-ö hüljatud.”
https://www.postimees.ee/7970529/mull-lohkeb-kirjaneni-suurtehase-kohal-korgub-rasvane-kusimark
Will Estonia’s biotech bubble burst?
By Ülle Harju, Marek Strandberg
(Postimees)
“A big question mark hangs over the flagship of Estonia's promising wood chemicals industry. Various pieces of information have led to the suspicion that wood industrialist Raul Kirjanen does not seem to have a profitable opportunity to build a large wood chemicals factory in either Estonia or Latvia. This is due to the patent issue, the production costs and the dark clouds that have appeared over the entire bio-production.”
https://news.postimees.ee/7971074/will-the-biotech-bubble-burst
No plans to close Koidula border crossing with Russia, citing job losses
(ERR)
“… and other negative impacts on local residents were it to do so. The checkpoint at Koidula is on the Estonian-Russian border, one of three such stations in the Southeast of the country, and includes a road border crossing.”
https://news.err.ee/1609267227/ministry-no-plans-to-close-koidula-border-crossing-with-russia
Otepää’s Sauna Marathon
(Washington Post)
“At the 13th annual European Sauna Marathon teams navigated ice and snow to clock three minutes in 18 different saunas over one afternoon.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2024/02/27/europe-sauna-marathon-otepaa-estonia/
Understanding Poverty In Estonia
(The Borgen Project)
Their report claims: “Estonia is facing a period of hardship and uncertainty. Political unrest, a struggling population and regional divides are putting intense stress on the country’s economy and people.”
https://borgenproject.org/understanding-poverty-in-estonia/
“Statistics: Estonian economy contracted by 3 % in 2023.” - ERR
“GDP prices was 9.9 billion euros in the fourth quarter.” - BNN
Swedbank Cleared of Money Laundering by Estonian Prosecutor
(Morningstar)
“Swedbank had been under investigation for governance deficiencies related to anti-money laundering measures in its Baltic subsidiaries after a Swedish TV show reported in 2019 that billions of dollars of potentially illicit funds might have passed through the bank's Estonian branch. The Estonian State Prosecutor's Office had been investigating whether money was laundered within Swedbank's Estonian subsidiary between 2014 and 2016, but it has found that no crime was committed and the investigation is therefore being closed, Swedbank said.”
Finland has not set limits on use of weapons sent to Ukraine
(Yle | Politico)
“Helsinki also urged Germany to “seriously consider” sending long-range Taurus cruise missiles to help Kyiv.”
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Germany to deploy troops in Lithuania, first move of its kind since World War II
(Euronews)
“The base in Lithuania is expected to cost around €30 million per month.”
Wednesday 28. February
Kiek in de Kök kutsub märtsipommitamist meenutavale ekskursioonile
(Pealinn)
“Laupäeval, 9. märtsil kutsub Kiek in de Köki kindlustustemuuseum bastionikäikudesse märtsipommitamist meenutavale ekskursioonile ‘Õuduste öö varjendis’, sellele järgneb virtuaalreaalne ajarännak ‘VR Tallinn 1939/44’.”
https://pealinn.ee/2024/02/28/kiek-in-de-kok-kutsub-martsipommitamist-meenutavale-ekskursioonile/
Will Estonia Lead The Way In Confiscating Frozen Russian Assets?
By Rikard Jozwiak, RFERL Brief #2
“Recently, the European Union took the first step in actually using some of the money from Russian assets frozen in the bloc to financially support Ukraine.”
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“Estonia has gone further, just passing a draft law in its first reading in parliament that would allow the proceeds from frozen assets belonging to Russian citizens to be sent to Ukraine as compensation for war damages. A second reading is due in March or April, and the law is expected to be adopted in the second half of the year. Estonia has frozen Russian assets worth some 36 million euros ($39 million), through its own measures and the implementation of EU sanctions.”
Over 83,000 Russian nationals in Estonia
(ERR | Estonian World Review | Estonian World)
“73,772 have a long-term residence permit.”
https://news.err.ee/1609266258/over-83-000-russian-citizens-resident-in-estonia
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https://estonianworld.com/life/over-83000-russian-nationals-residing-in-estonia/
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https://www.eesti.ca/over-83-000-russian-citizens-live-in-estonia/article60859
Land mines return to Europe as front-line states fear Russian invasion
(Washington Post)
“Two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries such as the Baltic states and Finland warn that a threat to their own territory may be just over the horizon, with some intelligence agencies saying the Kremlin could make such an attempt within a decade. Now they are taking lessons from their enemy’s robust defense lines in Ukraine, noting that Russia’s system of minefields, concertina wire and trenches made it all but impossible for Kyiv’s forces to advance last summer.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2024/02/23/russia-nato-landmine-borders-trump/
“Baltic states consider withdrawal from the Anti-Personnel Landmines Convention.” - Militarnyi
Estonian company sanctioned for supporting Russian war machine
(ERR | Baltic Times)
“The latest US list of sanctions released on Friday includes the Estonian company Gold Solution OU … According to the US authorities, Gold Solution has been transporting European-origin work benches and spare parts to the Russian company Pumori Northwest and other sellers of metalworking machinery, all supporting the Russian war effort.”
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“According to the Estonian Business Register, Gold Solution OU, established in 2008, is a company engaged in transportation and storage. The firm is registered on Mahtra Street in the Lasnamae city district of Tallinn.”
https://news.err.ee/1609265577/estonian-registered-firm-sanctioned-by-us
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http://www.baltictimes.com/estonian_co_sanctioned_for_supporting_russian_war_machine/
Record-breaking number of asylum seekers in Estonia last year
(The Baltic Times)
“In 2023, over 12,766 people applied for protection in Estonia, the majority of whom were war refugees from Ukraine.”
https://www.baltictimes.com/record-breaking_number_of_asylum_seekers_in_estonia_last_year/
“EU asylum applications hit 7-year high.” - Deutsche Welle
Belarus' election reinforces the authoritarian leader's 30-year rule
(ABC News)
“Belarusian authorities on Monday announced preliminary results from parliamentary and local elections in which only candidates loyal to the country's authoritarian leader were allowed to compete and the opposition called for a boycott. … The vote further cemented the 30-year rule of President Alexander Lukashenko, who declared his intention to seek another five-year term in a presidential election next year.”
- Russia’s Forever War -
Russian Offensive Campaign
Assessment: 29. Feb. 2024
(ISW)
“Ukrainian officials are reportedly concerned about the possibility of significant Russian territorial gains in summer 2024 in the event of continued delays in Western security assistance.”
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“Putin used tired rhetoric about negotiations and nuclear saber rattling during his Federal Assembly speech, likely to seize on Western attention to the speech to promote ongoing Kremlin information operations.”
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“Russian criminal accusations against European officials and citizens may be part of an ongoing Russian effort to set informational conditions justifying possible Russian escalations against NATO states in the future.”
https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-29-2024
“Continuing rhetoric: Putin threatens NATO with nuclear strike if it sends troops to Ukraine.” - Politico Europe
“Putin Sends Message of Defiance to West in State of Nation Address.” - The Moscow Times
“Putin threatens retaliatory strikes against Western countries.” - Meduza
“Venemaa plaanib Euroopa migrantidega üle ujutada.” - ERR
“At least 75,000 dead Russian soldiers.” - Meduza
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