Moscow - Russian authorities initiated unprecedented criminal proceedings against Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, alleging politically motivated charges, as stated by the leader of the Baltic state.
The Kremlin accused Kallas, along with Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, of destruction or damage to Soviet monuments commemorating Soviet soldiers, reported Russia’s state-run Tass news. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the charges during a press briefing but did not specify when the alleged offense occurred.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, Kallas declared Estonia's decision to remove all Soviet monuments from public spaces.
Kallas seems to be the first head of state placed on the Russian Interior Ministry’s wanted list since the full-scale invasion began, though the significance of this move is likely symbolic.
In response to the developments, Kallas stated on social media that the action was expected and reaffirmed her support for Ukraine in its conflict against Russia.
She emphasized historical repression by Russia, citing the deportation of her grandmother and mother to Siberia after the KGB issued arrest warrants for them.
“The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and others – but it won’t. The opposite. I will continue my strong support to Ukraine,” she affirmed.
Estonia, once part of the Soviet Union, joined the European Union and NATO in 2004, which has been a source of tension with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who perceives the alliance as a threat to Russia's security.
Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine raised concerns in Estonia about potential future aggression.
According to a report by the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia may consider increasing troop numbers along its border with the Baltic countries and Finland, the latter having joined NATO last year.
Kaupo Rosin, the head of the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service, suggested that Russia anticipates a conflict with NATO in the coming decade, though he downplayed the likelihood of military action.
Estonia advocates for increased defense spending in Europe, particularly in light of former US President Donald Trump's statements regarding NATO's spending guidelines.
Estonia's defense budget is set to exceed 3% of its GDP for the first time this year, surpassing NATO's 2% threshold.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna delivered a robust foreign policy speech on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to Russia and expressing unwavering support for Ukraine.
“No one wants to live in a world where Putins roam, kidnapping and orphaning children, attempting to cancel their neighbors and mining nuclear power plants,” Tsahkna asserted. “Aggression must not succeed; it must not become a new acceptable reality. Otherwise, the world will become the domain of force, arrogance, callousness, authoritarianism.”