Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) has refused to extend the residence permit of Metropolitan Eugene (Valery Reshetnikov) of the Estonian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, ERR reports. The head of the Russian church in Estonia will therefore have to leave the country by 6 February 2024. Despite repeated warnings, Reshetnikov has continued…
The Baltic States support banning the import of grain from Russia and Belarus into the EU, according to the Lithuanian Transport Minister, Marius Skuodis, BNS reports. He discussed the issue with Latvian Transport Minister Kaspars Briskens and Estonian Climate Minister Kristen Michal. The ministers agreed to coordinate actions and avoid national initiatives. Earlier, Skuodis noted…
Russian President Vladimir Putin has increased efforts to create the information conditions for a future escalation against the Baltic States, according to the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW), LRT reports. Putin asserted that Latvia’s moves to expel Russian citizens “directly affected Russia’s security.” Earlier, Latvia’s Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP)…
The Lithuanian Migration Department (LMD) has found several Lithuanian citizens with family ties to persons under EU sanctions, BNS reports. LMD started the investigation after media reported that two of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich’s children have Lithuanian citizenship and may have helped him evade sanctions. LMD is now checking thousands of people and plans to…
Estonia’s three-party ruling coalition will meet on 30 January 2024 to discuss the state of the coalition, according to Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, chairman of Estonia 200 (E200), ERR reports. Tsahkna said that E200 would propose ways to revitalise the economy, including measures to reform education, ensure labour and capital availability, and stabilise energy prices…
The Latvian government, which took office in September 2023, has approved a plan of action, LSM reports. The plan foresees 269 specific measures in line with the government declaration. The action plan is divided into three main priorities: “Prosperous Latvia,” “Safe Latvia,” and “Latvian and inclusive Latvia.” All state institutions must submit reports on the…
The last leader of the Communist Party of Estonia (EKP), Vaino Väljas, has died at the age of 92, ERR reports. President Alar Karis offered his condolences, noting the important role that Väljas played during Estonia’s Singing Revolution in the late 1980s, leading to the restoration of independence in 1991. Väljas was born on Hiiumaa…
Lithuania’s Prosecutor General, Nida Grunskiene, has asked the parliament, the Seimas, to remove legal immunity from MP Remigijus Zemaitaitis, BNS reports. The move will allow Zemaitaitis to be prosecuted for inciting hatred against a group of people. The opposition MP posted antisemitic texts on social media, claiming that Jews deported and killed Lithuanians during WW2….
Europe has three to five years to prepare for Russia to pose a serious threat to NATO’s eastern flank, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas estimated, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with The Times, Kallas said that the time frame depended on NATO unity and continued support for Ukraine. She conceded that there were signs…