Image Credits - Al Arabiya
Estonia’s prime minister Kaja Kallas has been listed as wanted in Russia due to her actions to dismantle Soviet-era World War II monuments in the Baltic country. This development comes amidst heightened tensions between Russia and the West, fueled by the conflict in Ukraine.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova announced on Tuesday that Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and two other Baltic officials have been added to the list. This development coincides with the release of an Estonian intelligence report indicating Russia’s preparations for potential conflict with the West in the next decade.
Since gaining independence in 1991 as the Soviet Union dissolved, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have dismantled many Soviet-era memorials. This process, which initially strained relations with Moscow, has intensified since Russia invaded Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized Kallas for engaging in hostile actions against Russia. Similar to leaders in Latvia and Lithuania, the Estonian prime minister is known for being one of Europe’s most vocal advocates for Ukraine.
Moscow has listed several high-ranking officials and generals from Kyiv as wanted individuals. However, Kallas is the first government leader known to be targeted by Moscow. As a staunch supporter of Ukraine, the Estonian prime minister has actively advocated for increased military aid to Kyiv and stricter sanctions against Russia. The move to include Kallas on its wanted list is expected to escalate tensions in the region, particularly as many Western capitals express concerns about Russia’s mounting military aggression.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that a key objective of the war is to eliminate far-right and neo-Nazi factions in Ukraine. However, he has not provided evidence to substantiate his repeated assertions that these groups significantly influence Ukrainian policies. The addition of Kallas to Moscow’s wanted list may also be interpreted as a response to the International Criminal Court’s issuance of an arrest warrant against Putin last year for alleged involvement in deporting Ukrainian children to Russia. The list from the Interior Ministry also features ICC President Piotr Hofmanski.
On the same day, Estonia’s intelligence chief stated that Russia is foreseeing a potential conflict with NATO within the next decade. Presenting the nation’s annual report on security threats, Kaupo Rosin explained that this assessment stemmed from Russia’s intentions to increase troop numbers along its borders with Baltic states and Finland, all of which are NATO members. Nonetheless, the report acknowledged that due to Russian military involvement in Ukraine, the likelihood of an immediate direct attack on the West is minimal.
Simultaneously, the intelligence chief highlighted remarks made by U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who stated that he would not support allies failing to meet defence spending obligations, stating that “such statements are never helpful”.
