Estonia’s Foreign Minister, Margus Tsahkna, criticised US technology entrepreneur Elon Musk for denying Ukraine access to his astronautics company SpaceX’s satellite network, Starlink, ERR reports. Tsahkna noted that Musk had an opportunity to shorten the war in Ukraine and save lives, but chose not to do so. Musk said that he had refused Ukraine’s request…
Estonia’s Office of the Prosecutor General has charged Aivo Peterson, leader of the pro-Russian political party, Together (Koos), with treason, ERR reports. Also, Estonian citizen Dmitri Rootsi was charged with treason and Russian citizen Andrey Andronov for non-violent activities against Estonia. Rootsi and Andronov are both members of the pro-Russian organisation, Night Watch (Nochnoy Dozor)….
The foreign ministers of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries (NB8) are meeting in the Latvian capital, Riga, on 6-7 September 2023, LSM reports. The ministers will discuss regional and energy security, hybrid threats, support for Ukraine, and cooperation in international organisations. Latvia coordinates NB8 cooperation in 2023. Latvia’s focus is on strengthening the rules-based…
Latvia’s Office for Citizenship and Migration Affairs (PMLP) has denied residency to around 80 Russian citizens following an assessment by the State Security Service (VDD), LSM reports. PMLP has referred over 13,000 residence permit applications to VDD for review. VDD has so far completed its assessment on around 7,000 of the applicants. Under amendments to…
The Lithuanian government seeks to have more direct flights to Germany, BNS reports. Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas said that the more frequent flight connections would help German troops stationed in Lithuania. Also, Lithuania plans to open kindergartens and schools for the children of German soldiers, Anusauskas added. Lithuania’s defence chief, General Valdemaras Rupsys, said that…
Russia-backed hackers carried out large-scale cyber attacks against several state, financial, and health care institutions in Latvia on 4 September 2023, according to Latvia’s Information Technology Security Incident Prevention Agency, CERT.LV, Baltic News Network reports. The organised attacks involved phishing campaigns, defacing websites, and possible ransomware attacks. CERT.LV called on residents to report incidents and…
The chief prosecutors of the three Baltic States have agreed to increase their cooperation in the fight against drug-related and organised crime, BNS reports. Prosecutors working on narcotics cases will soon meet in Latvia to discuss further procedural steps. Estonia’s Prosecutor General, Andres Parmas, noted that the number of overdose deaths had risen sharply in…
Lithuania has asked NATO to increase air defences in the Baltic States, BNS reports. Lithuania’s Deputy Defence Minister, Zilvinas Tomkus, met with the commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), General James Hecker, to discuss the issue. Tomkus asked NATO to deploy more assets, including fighter jets and air defence systems, to the region. The…
The Lithuanian government is unlikely to propose amendments to apply the same restrictions on Belarusian citizens as on Russian citizens, Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen, speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, the Seimas, announced, BNS reports. Speaking after a meeting of coalition parties, Cmilyte-Nielsen, who chairs the Lithuanian Liberal Movement (LLS), reiterated her position that the restrictions on Belarusians…