Estonian President Alar Karis stressed that the state budget must remain under strict parliamentary control, BNS reported. Speaking at the opening of the autumn session of the Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, Karis said that MPs should not engage in bargaining for budget funds for their supporters, but instead focus on making the most important decisions…
Lithuania will have 15,500 professional military personnel and 50,000 soldiers in the active reserve by 2030 under the Defence Ministry’s new plan, BNS reports. Currently, Lithuania has 13,500 professional soldiers in service. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas said that the Lithuanian Armed Forces (LGP) would form a new infrantry division in phases by 2030. The division…
The Latvian state will have to borrow at least EUR 3bn annually for the next four years, Kaspars Abolins, head of the State Treasury, announced, LETA reports. He said that the state needed to refinance earlier Eurobonds and finance the state budget deficit and loans to local governments. The plan was to raise the money…
Estonia’s former president, Kersti Kaljulaid, has decided to run for president of the Estonian Olympic Committee (EOK), BNS reports. Kaljulaid said that 25 EOK members had nominated her to the position. She said that the members had welcomed her ideas about the future of the organisation and Estonian sports. The deadline for candidate nominations is…
The Latvian government plans to restrict the ability of Russian citizens to buy land in Latvia, LETA reports. The ruling three-party coalition has agreed on the plan conceptually, following a proposal from the Ministry of Agriculture. The government will analyse the example of similar draft legislation in Finland. Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze has discussed…
Symbols supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine have appeared on a number of properties in Lithuania’s port city of Klaipeda, according to local police, BNS reports. The letter Z was painted on three cars, on doors, walls, and windows of several buildings, on billboards, and on a church bell. The display of Russian war symbols is…
Members of the Estonia-China friendship group of the Estonian parliament will probably no longer travel to China on trips paid for by the host country, the group’s chairman, MP Toomas Kivimägi of the Estonian Reform Party, stated, ERR reports. Earlier, controversy arose when a group of Estonian MPs paid a visit to China, with costs…
The Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that crashed in Latvia’s eastern Rezekne municipality was an Iranian-designed Shahed drone carrying 90 kg of explosives, the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) announced, LETA reports. The drone’s warhead did not detonate in the crash. NBS deactivated the drone and is now inspecting its components. Janis Garisons, former state…
Some Lithuanian nationals have joined Russian occupation forces in Ukraine, LRT reports. At least five Lithuanian citizens are known to be fighting for Russia against Ukraine, 15min reports. Defence Minister Laurynas Kasciunas confirmed that there was “definitely more than one” Lithuanian fighting on the Russian side. He said that the persons were known to Lithuania’s…