Only 11 % of people in Russia consider Estonia to be hostile against that country, a 15 year low according to polling (60 % consider the US as a hostile state)
https://news.err.ee/1136798/survey-number-of-russian-citizens-seeing-estonia-as-hostile-at-15-year-low
Photo:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sügise_märgid.jpg
Eesti Koroonakaart
https://www.koroonakaart.ee/et
Belarus news is toward
the end of the newsletter
__________
Friday
18. September
__________
Coronavirus: Laupäevast ei saa enam Rootsi ega Norrasse lennata
(ERR | Postimees)
“Riik keelab alates laupäevast taas otselennud Rootsist ja Norrast, kus nakatumiste arv 100,000 elaniku kohta on uuesti üle 25 tõusnud.”
https://www.err.ee/1136946/laupaevast-ei-saa-enam-rootsi-ega-norrasse-lennata
—
https://majandus24.postimees.ee/7065888/riik-keelab-taas-otselennud-rootsist-ja-norrast?_ga=2.55357229.706986314.1600451880-1204392742.1599058480
“Esmaspäevast kehtib liikumispiirang 30 Euroopa riigist saabujatele.” - ERR
“There are now more than 300,000 COVID cases a week in Europe.” - Politico-Europe
“Second-quarter travel to Finland plummets by 87%.” - Yle
“Norway Advises Its Citizens Against Non-Essential Travel to Estonia.” - Schengenvisainfo
Kaja Kallas: oleme valmis toetama Kaljulaidi jätkamist presidendina
(ERR)
“Järgmised presidendivalimised toimuvad 2021. aastal ajavahemikul 10. august kuni 29. september. Kui riigikogu presidenti valida ei suuda - selleks on vaja vähemalt 68 poolthäält -, läheb valik valijameestekogusse, kus on enamvähem võrdselt esindatud riigikogu ja omavalitsustest tulevad inimesed.”
https://www.err.ee/1136892/kaja-kallas-oleme-valmis-toetama-kaljulaidi-jatkamist-presidendina
USA maastikupõlengute suits võib lähipäevil Eesti õhukvaliteeti halvendada
(Postimees)
“USA läänerannikul möllavate suurte tulekahjude suits liigub üle Atlandi ookeani Põhja-Euroopa suunas ning võib lähipäevil jõuda ka Eestisse.”
https://www.postimees.ee/7065635/keskkonnaagentuur-hoiatab-usa-maastikupolengute-suits-voib-lahipaevil-eesti-ohukvaliteeti-halvendada
Läänemaal avatakse mälestusmärk 1944. aasta paadipõgenikele
(ERR)
“1944. aasta sügisel läksid Läänemaalt Puise rannast lähenevate punavägede eest Rootsi poole teele kümned tuhanded inimesed. Paljud neist ei jõudnud kohale.
"Hinnanguliselt on jäänud merre 5000 inimest selle minemise käigus,” ütles Eesti Memento Liidu juht Arnold Aljaste …”
https://www.err.ee/1136995/laanemaal-avatakse-malestusmark-1944-aasta-paadipogenikele
“The Last Million: Europe’s Displaced Persons from World War to Cold War"
A new book by David Nasaw
Penguin Publishing | 15. September 2020
Reading this right now and offer
this excerpt from page 134:
“While every group of displaced persons worried about being forcibly ejected from the camps and returned to their former homelands, those who had fled Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and western Ukraine had the most to fear. The Soviets, having annexed their homelands, regarded them as Soviet citizens, and as such, subject to immediate repatriation, as agreed to at Yalta. The Americans and British, having never recognized the annexations, rejected the Soviet claims. American military commanders, knowing that Baltic exiles would be forcibly repatriated if left behind in the Soviet zone, sought permission to move them into the American zones of occupation. On May 21, 1945, SHAEF issued a directive, signed by General Eisenhower, that Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians “should not be treated as Soviet citizens nor repatriated to the Soviet Union unless they affirmatively claim Soviet citizenship.” Because such actions were bound to anger the Soviets, military personnel in the field were directed not to give “this information [about American policy decisions] to Soviet representatives. If any questions be raised by Soviet representatives concerning this interpretation of the CRIMEAN [Yalta] agreement, it should be suggested that they raise the questions on a governmental level. …”
https://www.amazon.com/Last-Million-Europes-Displaced-Persons-ebook/dp/B085N3NVWP/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1600299657&sr=8-1
Survey: Number of Russian citizens seeing Estonia as hostile at 15-year low
(ERR)
“(Only) 11 percent of people in Russia consider Estonia to be hostile against that country, the lowest figure for the past 15 years.”
https://news.err.ee/1136798/survey-number-of-russian-citizens-seeing-estonia-as-hostile-at-15-year-low
“Eestit vaenlaseks pidavate venemaalaste hulk langes viimase 15 aasta madalaimale tasemele.” - ERR
The international role of Lithuania towards the crisis in Belarus
By Aleksandra Kuczyńska-Zonik, Institute of Central Europe
“Due to the absence of an adequate response from the EU, on August 18, the Lithuanian Seimas adopted a resolution refusing to recognize Alexander Lukashenko as the legitimate leader of the Republic of Belarus and called on the European Commission and the member states of the EU and NATO, not to recognize the result of the presidential elections in Belarus and to impose sanctions on its officials. There was a cross-party consensus to solve the issue. …”
https://ies.lublin.pl/en/komentarze-commentaries/the-international-role-of-lithuania-towards-the-crisis-in-belarus-aleksandra-kuczynska-zonik-247-150-2020?fbclid=IwAR1fYnZQgiAKgsxz5fa7XmkJ5xzhu3vfv-emjTKOuMSxtBmg35Wkj4dsJho
“Leedu kaitseminister: Leedu ei reageeri Valgevene provokatsioonidele.” - Postimees
U.S. and Estonia sign agreement for collaborative research in cyber defense
(Army Recognition)
"This historic agreement provides the opportunity for two nations with substantial defensive cyber capabilities to leverage their respective cyber experience to drive new research and development to reduce cyber threats across the spectrum of conflict,” said Director of the C5ISR Center Patrick J. O’Neill.”
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_september_2020_global_security_army_industry/u.s._and_estonia_sign_historic_agreement_for_collaborative_research_in_cyber_defense.html
“Estonia ambassador on creating a security culture post cyberwar.” - SC
The Baltics States’ Ban on Belarusian Nuclear Electricity Imports: Implications for All Sides
(Jamestown Org.)
“… a press release from the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications announced that Estonia along with Lithuania and Latvia had reached a mutual agreement the day prior stipulating that electricity trade with Belarus will end once the NPP goes online. The statement further notes that a new system of origin verification will be enacted to ensure that Baltic electricity imports do not derive from Belarus.”
https://jamestown.org/program/the-baltics-states-ban-on-belarusian-nuclear-electricity-imports-implications-for-all-sides/
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Thursday
17. September
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Kaljulaid: kui anname raha eilse päeva kinnihoidmiseks, läheb meil halvasti
(ERR)
“Regionaalsete probleemidega pikaajaline ignoreerimine Eestis on pannud poliitikud pakkuma lootuse kaotanud inimestele lihtsaid lahendusi, mille hind on aga arengu seiskumine ja eilse päeva ihalus …”
https://www.err.ee/1136594/kaljulaid-kui-anname-raha-eilse-paeva-kinnihoidmiseks-laheb-meil-halvasti
Analüütik: von der Leyeni avaldus Venemaa kohta oli üllatavalt jõuline
(ERR)
"Nendele, kes kaitsevad tihedamate sidemete edendamist Venemaaga, ütlen ma, et Aleksei Navalnõi mürgitamine keerulise keemilise ainega ei ole ühekordne sündmus. Me oleme näinud sama mustrit Gruusias ja Ukrainas, Süürias ja Salisburys ning valimistesse sekkumist üle maailma. See muster ei muutu ning ükski torujuhe seda ei muuda," teatas Euroopa Komisjoni president oma kõnes viidates Venemaalt Saksamaale kulgeva gaasitoru Nord Stream 2 ehitamisele, mille saatus ja mõju on viimasel ajal taas suurema avalikkuse tähelepanu all.”
https://www.err.ee/1135711/analuutik-von-der-leyeni-avaldus-venemaa-kohta-oli-ullatavalt-jouline
Eesti rahvastikuplahvatus jäi ära maanappuse tõttu
(Novaator)
"Teisisõnu on Eesti demograafilise ülemineku tüüp üks põhjus, miks Eesti rahvaarv on napilt üle miljoni."
https://novaator.err.ee/1134128/eesti-rahvastikuplahvatus-jai-ara-maanappuse-tottu
“Fertility Modernisation in Estonia: Analysis of Individual-Level Data for Women Born 1850-1899.” - by Mark Gortfelder, Tallinn University
The World Still Needs a United West
(Foreign Affairs)
“How Europe and the United States Can Renew Their Alliance.”
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2020-09-17/world-still-needs-united-west
Lukašenko otsustas tuumajaama käivitada Oktoobrirevolutsiooni aastapäeval, 7. novembril
(ERR)
“Tuumakütus toodi jaama 6. mail ning 7. augustil alustati esimese energiaploki täitmist tuumakütusega.”
https://www.err.ee/1135781/lukasenko-otsustas-tuumajaama-kaivitada-oktoobrirevolutsiooni-aastapaeval
Estonia ready to accept IT firms from Belarus, but not refugees
(ERR)
“Estonia is in no hurry to open the border for refugees from Belarus but is ready to accept Belarusian IT companies, Minister of Foreign Affairs Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) has said. Both Latvia and Lithuania have said they are ready to do both.”
https://news.err.ee/1136031/reinsalu-estonia-ready-to-accept-it-firms-from-belarus-but-not-refugees
_________
Wednesday
16. September
__________
Juhtkiri: kui ihkad sõda, valmistu rahuks
(Postimees)
“Rahvas, kes võtab oma vabadust tõsiselt, esiteks toidab oma kaitseväelasi ja teiseks hoiab liitlassuhteid kui kõige kallimat vara. Kaitsekulude eest seismine on kogu rahva kokkulepe ja seda kindlust tuleb hoida. Sõjalise riigikaitse kuludega tuleb edasi minna nii, nagu Eesti riigis on kokku lepitud. See tähendab, kasvatades neid järgnevatel aastatel eurodes arvestatuna sedasi, nagu on kirjas eelmisel aastal kinnituse saanud riigieelarve strateegias. …”
https://leht.postimees.ee/7063313/juhtkiri-kui-ihkad-soda-valmistu-rahuks?_ga=2.231623327.1406668763.1600265468-1204392742.1599058480
“Opinion: E.U. leaders are still learning to navigate a world ever more dangerous for them.” - New York Times
“DefMin launches website introducing Estonia's national defense development.” - Baltic Times
“Eesti Riigikaitseline Areng.” - Kaitseministeerium
“Estonian National Defence Development.” - Kaitseministeerium
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at Amari
(ERR)
“The helicopters belong to the 101st Combat Aviation Brigade of the United States Army and are based in Lielvarde, Latvia. The helicopters will return to Latvia on 18. Sept.”
https://news.err.ee/1134711/us-helicopters-to-practice-in-estonian-air-space
“14. ja 15. septembril toimunud harjutus algas kopterite UH-60 Black Hawk tutvustuse ja ohutustehnikaga …” - Kaitseväe
“UH-60A/L Black Hawk Helicopter specs.” - Military.com
Tallinna koolidest ja lasteaedadest on isolatsioonis üle 200 inimese
(ERR)
“Tallinnas on COVID-19 haigusjuhtumid tuvastatud neljas koolis ja kolmes lasteaias ning isolatsioonis on nende juhtumite tõttu üle 200 inimese, ütles terviseameti põhja regiooni juht Ester Öpik.”
https://www.err.ee/1135702/tallinna-koolidest-ja-lasteaedadest-on-isolatsioonis-ule-200-inimese
“More than 200 teachers, students isolating in Tallinn.” - ERR
“The number of infections brought in from abroad is on the rise.” - ERR
"175,110 tests have been taken in Estonia so far in 2020 and 2,722 of them, or 1.55%, have proved positive." - Baltic Course
“In Tallinn, 215 teachers and students sent to self-quarantine.” - BNN
“WHO warns of 'very serious situation' in Europe.” - CNN
Estonia Amends Rules of Entry & Stay for International Workers and Students
(SchengenVisaInfo)
“… who study or work in the country, the country’s government has announced.”
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/estonia-amends-rules-of-entry-stay-for-international-workers-and-students/
Sillamäe saab riigilt pea 74,000 eurot skelettide väljakaevamise hüvitist
(ERR)
“Suve alguses avastati Sillamäel Kesk tänava rekonstrueerimistööde käigus 17.-18. sajandist pärit kalmistu, millest kaevati välja 118 inimese säilmed.”
https://www.err.ee/1135596/sillamae-saab-riigilt-pea-74-000-eurot-skelettide-valjakaevamise-huvitist
From 2017: A feeling of dread descends on Baltics again
By Imbi Paju | Japan Times | Feb 28, 2017
“In the Baltics, we know well the feeling that our country is part of some great global game of money and manipulation. We haven’t forgotten the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the other secret protocols by which Soviet leader Joseph Stalin and German leader Adolf Hitler in 1939 altered the fate of our countries almost overnight. How could we? Just a year later, the Soviet Union’s secret police began arresting and killing our parents and grandparents. …”
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2017/02/28/commentary/world-commentary/feeling-dread-descends-baltics/
__________
Belarus
_________
Putin Sends Pskov Airborne Troops to Belarus Exercise
(ISW)
“Moscow has modified the prescheduled Slavic Brotherhood military exercises in Belarus to demonstrate its ability to deploy forces to Belarus on short notice. … The 76th Guards Air Assault Division is an experienced expeditionary force based in Pskov near the Estonian and Latvian borders. Elements of the division participated in Kremlin operations in both Chechen wars, Kosovo, Georgia, and the annexation of Crimea. This unit has additionally previously operated in Belarus; elements conducted exercises in Brest in April 2018.”
http://www.iswresearch.org/2020/09/belarus-warning-update-putin-sends.html
“The 76th Guards Airborne Division at Pskov.” - Global Security
“Can Moscow Manage a Power Transition in Belarus?” - Carnegie Moscow
“Russia’s Emergency Loan to Belarus Changes Little for Embattled Lukashenko.” - The Moscow Times
“Fewer than One Russian in Seven Favors Annexation of Belarus, Levada Center Poll Finds.” - Paul Goble
“Lithuania to 'remain calm' if Belarus sends forces to border.” - LRT
“Lithuania to block freight traffic if Belarus closes borders.” - LRT
Russian Force Deployment into Belarus is Likely Imminent
(ISW)
“Multiple indicators ISW had identified as presaging the stationing of Russian troops in Belarus have now tripped, including the presence of Russian troops during extended exercises and specific changes in Belarusian rhetoric.”
http://www.iswresearch.org/2020/09/belarus-warning-update-russian-force.html
Kremlin seeks to control anti-access/area denial weapon systems in Belarus
(ISW)
“The Kremlin likely seeks to integrate Belarus’ currently independent air defense systems into Russia’s own national air defense system, which would give Moscow control over their employment. Such integration would enhance Russian capabilities to contest NATO airspace and degrade NATO’s ability to defend the Baltics.”
http://www.iswresearch.org/2020/09/belarus-warning-update-lukashenko-and.html
Integration for the Sake of Salvation
Kalev Stoicescu, ICDS
“The domestic power base of dictator Alexander Lukashenko is now mostly limited to Belarus’ security structures. Although he is still popular with aged babushkas and dedushkas, who see no reason for or even fear change, Lukashenko can no longer count on blue-collar support from the ‘working collectives’ of the large state-owned factories, or from the younger generations of Belarusians protesting with the white-red-white flags he detests.”
—
“The generals and colonels of the Belarusian KGB, OMON and armed forces, however, continue to show surprising levels of loyalty to a dictator who has lost legitimacy in the eyes of the West. While they probably care little about Western attitudes, they are surely keeping a careful eye on Russia’s reactions …”
https://icds.ee/en/integration-for-the-sake-of-salvation/
The regime in Belarus is trying to steal our victory. It won’t succeed.
By Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, Washington Post
“Tikhanovskaya is the leader of the opposition in Belarus, currently exiled in Lithuania.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/09/14/regime-belarus-is-trying-steal-our-victory-it-wont-succeed/
“Valgevene püüdis suukorvistada ÜRO istungil rääkinud Tsihhanovskajat.” - Postimees
“Many in Three Million-Strong Belarusian Diaspora Said Ready to Help Their Country After Lukashenka Goes.” - Paul Goble
“A Belarusian in Latvia: A Letter to the Front Line.” - Latvian Broadcasting
Lukashenka Holds His Own With Putin in Sochi
(Jamestown Org.)
“Russian President Vladimir Putin held a lengthy tête-à-tête with his Belarusian counterpart, Alyaksandr Lukashenka, on September 14, in Sochi—their first meeting since the outbreak of mass protests in Belarus against the flawed August 9 presidential election.”
https://jamestown.org/program/lukashenka-holds-his-own-with-putin-in-sochi-part-one/
Lukashenka Holds His Own With Putin in Sochi - Part 2:
“Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouska (Svetlana Tikhanovska), currently in Lithuania, reacted: “I want to remind Vladimir Putin: whatever the two of you agree in the Sochi meeting will not be legally valid. All agreements signed with the illegitimate Lukashenka will be reconsidered by the new authorities. I very much regret that you decided to conduct a dialogue with the dictator, instead of the Belarusian people” (Interfax, September 14).
https://jamestown.org/program/lukashenka-holds-his-own-with-putin-in-sochi-part-two/
“Russia loaned Belarus president Alexander Lukashenko $1.5 billion, as he warned protesters not to cross his red lines.” - EU Observer
Belarusians have created a new sense of self-identity
(New Eastern Euyrope)
“Interview with Anaïs Marin, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Belarus.”
https://neweasterneurope.eu/2020/09/14/belarusians-have-created-a-new-sense-of-self-identity/?fbclid=IwAR2ATSu592N6uNE9UCN4E6iTKMcjoSO_g77fNVs0nnF5Qs5hrlRR6JbSas0
The Language of the Belarusian Revolution is Russian
(Window on Eurasia)
“Belarusians insist the name of their country is Belarus and not Belorussia, the term Russians use. They are “Belaruses” not “Belorusy.” And with increasing frequency, they put the Russian preference in brackets when they use their own. But as of now, “Russian has become the main (or dominant) language of the Belarusian revolution.” It is possible that the next generation of leaders there will speak only in Belarusian, especially if Russia intervenes in ways that offend the Belarusian people as Moscow has done in Ukraine. …”
http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2020/09/the-language-of-belarusian-revolution.html
Reports of Systematic Beatings and Torture of Protesters
(HRW)
“Belarusian security forces arbitrarily detained thousands of people and systematically subjected hundreds to torture and other ill- treatment … The victims described beatings, prolonged stress positions, electric shocks, and in at least one case, rape, and said they saw other detainees suffer the same or worse abuse. They had serious injuries, including broken bones, cracked teeth, skin wounds, electrical burns, and mild traumatic brain injuries.”
—
“The sweeping brutality of the crackdown shows the lengths to which the Belarusian authorities will go to silence people, but tens of thousands of peaceful protesters continue to demand fair elections and justice for abuses.”
https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/15/belarus-systematic-beatings-torture-protesters
“'I was preparing myself to be executed': Belarus protesters recall police detention in Minsk.” - CBC
Opposition Figure Maryya Kalesnikava Charged With Threatening Belarus's National Security
(RFERL)
“The Belarusian Investigative Committee said on September 16 that Kalesnikava is suspected of committing the alleged crime via the usage of media and the Internet.
The 38-year-old Kalesnikava has become a prominent leader of protests demanding the resignation of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka following an August 9 presidential election that the opposition says was rigged.”
https://www.rferl.org/a/arrested-opposition-figure-kalesnikava-charged-with-threatening-belarus-s-national-security/30842283.html
“Maria Kolesnikova could face up to five years in prison.” - The Guardian
“Russia accuses U.S. of promoting revolution in Belarus.” - Reuters
“Lukashenka Accuses West Of Trying To 'Destroy' Belarus With Another 'Color Revolution’.” - RFERL
“Russia's foreign intelligence chief accused the US of protecting Belarus opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya.” - Moscow Times
Vene kaitseminister saabus Valgevenesse
(ERR)
“Venemaa kaitseminister Sergei Šoigu saabus kolmapäeval koos ministeeriumi delegatsiooniga Valgevene pealinna Minskisse, et arutada kahe riigi sõjalise koostöö tihendamist.”
—
"Külaskäigu eesmärk on kahepoolse kaitsekoostöö arutamine Valgevene ja Venemaa vahel," teatas Vene kaitseministeerium.”
https://www.err.ee/1135700/vene-kaitseminister-saabus-valgevenesse
“Reinsalu: me ei eeldagi, et Lukašenko tahaks Eestisse tulla.” - ERR
Lukashenko hunts for Belarus opposition leaders
(Politico-Europe)
“Svetlana Alexievich is something very rare in Belarus. It's not just that she's a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, but she's also one of the few opposition leaders not under arrest or in exile. … Alexievich is the last of seven senior members of the Coordination Council, an opposition body set up to ensure a peaceful transfer of power from Alexander Lukashenko, who is still at (sort of) liberty. She's kept her freedom thanks to the intermittent presence of foreign diplomats in her Minsk apartment, making her arrest a potential PR disaster for Lukashenko's embattled government. But that's not the case for most other senior figures in the pro-democracy movement …”
https://www.politico.eu/article/alexander-lukashenko-belarus-opposition-leaders-hunt/
“Belarus: Nobel Laureate Alexievich visited by diplomats amid ‘harassment’.” - BBC
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