The representative of the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama, in Northern Europe, Sonam Frasi, and the head of the Tibetan government in exile, Penpa Tsering, visited the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, ERR reports. The Tibetan representatives talked at a hearing on the legal status of Tibet. The event was organised by…
Lithuania’s Foreign Ministry has proposed extending current restrictions on Russian and Belarusian citizens for another year until May 2025, BNS reports. Under the proposal, the restrictions on Belarusians would be tightened but not completely to the level imposed on Russian nationals. Belarusian citizens arriving in Lithuania with Schengen visas would undergo extra risk assessments and…
A Russian attack on NATO countries was “practically impossible” in the near future, Lithuania’s defence chief, Valdemaras Rupsys, stated, BNS reports. Speaking in an interview with Ziniu Radijas, Rupsys warned that diverging political statements and military assessments on the Russian threat created “some confusion,” which could scare the public. His assessment was that the possibility…
Members of the supervisory council of Latvia’s state-owned passenger train operator, Pasazieru Vilciens (Vivi), have resigned, LSM reports. The company has come under heavy criticism because of recurring problems with new electric trains delivered by the Czech manufacturer, Skoda Vagonka. Vivi’s council chairman, Sandis Steins, insisted that responsibility for the problems was beyond the council’s…
Building unified Baltic defence infrastructure should be coordinated with Finnish and Polish military experts, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics stated, LETA reports. Baltic cooperation with Finland and Poland was necessary to create an effective defence mechanism, he said. At the same time, Rinkevics reminded that Latvia was part of NATO’s defence planning. He discussed the issue…
The Estonian government plans to split the state-owned energy group, Eesti Energia, into three separate companies, Finance Minister Mart Võrklaev announced, ERR reports. He said that the plan was to list shares of network operator Elektrilevi and renewable energy producer Enefit Green on the stock exchange. However, Võrklaev said that he was no longer in…
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas announced that she will not attend the Independence Day reception at the Estonia Theatre in Tallinn on 24 February 2024, ERR reports. Earlier, President Alar Karis decided not to invite most MPs to this year’s reception. Several MPs have expressed displeasure at the President’s decision. Kallas said that she would…
The construction of the Baltic Defence Line in Latvia could take a decade, Latvian Defence Minister Andris Spruds estimated, LETA reports. He noted that the project would entail significant costs, which were currently being assessed. The government will have to align the costs with other national priorities, the minister said. Earlier, Baltic defence ministers signed…
The Lithuanian government has banned military staff, border guards, and police officers from travelling off-duty to Russia, Belarus, and China, BNS reports. The Defence Ministry noted that Russia, Belarus, and China posed threats to Lithuania’s national security, including through espionage. Intelligence authorities in the three countries collect information on Lithuanian citizens with access to classified…