The Dispatch

Estonians cast first votes in European Parliament election

The first votes have been cast in the European Parliament election. The official election dates are June 6 to 9, with most countries going to the polls on Sunday (June…

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New rules in Lithuania for registration of foreign tourists from July

Rules for registering tourists in Lithuania are set to change as of 1 July this year. Guests arriving in the country will need to be registered in the National Tourism…

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Lithuania raps Hungary over hold-ups in EU military aid to Ukraine

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis lashed out at Hungary on Monday for blocking European Union decisions on foreign affairs, including military aid for Ukraine, and said the bloc had to…

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Lithuanian Nauseda calls victory in presidential election

Lithuanian Gitanas Nauseda announced his re-election in a presidential ballot on Sunday, following a campaign dominated by security concerns in the European Union and NATO member next door to Russia.…

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Lithuania votes in presidential election 2nd round

Lithuanians headed to the polls on Sunday for the decisive second round of the presidential election, as incumbent president Gitanas Nausėda vied for another five-year term against prime minister Ingrida…

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Lithuanian border guards to be equipped with heavy weapons

Lithuanian border guards will be equipped with heavy weapons, Interior Minister Agnė Bilotaitė announced. “The Defence Ministry will contribute to equipping border guards with heavy weapons,” Bilotaitė told reporters at…

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Lithuania minister says Western military trainers could go to Ukraine

Lithuania’s foreign minister has raised the prospect of an ad hoc coalition of western countries sending military training personnel into Ukraine backed by ground-based air defence, days after Russia took…

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Lithuanian intelligence warns of provocations ahead of Russia’s Victory Day

Lithuanian intelligence has warned of possible provocations as Russia and some other former Soviet countries are about to celebrate the so-called World War Two Victory Day on May 9. “Recently,…

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US battalion to stay in Lithuania indefinitely

Lithuanian Defence Minister Laurynas Kasčiūnas, who is on a visit to the US, says he has been assured that the American battalion in Lithuania will stay in the country indefinitely,…

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Estonia says Russia violates international rules with GPS interference

Estonia accused Russia of violating international airspace regulations by interfering with GPS signals and the Baltic nation's foreign minister said it will take up the matter with its NATO and…

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Lithuania denies Minsk’s reports of drone attack from Lithuanian territory

Lithuanian Armed Forces have denied the Belarusian security service’s report that a drone attack was launched on Minsk from Lithuania. “The State Security Committee, in cooperation with colleagues from other…

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National defense to be compulsory subject in Latvian schools

From September this year, national defense will be a compulsory subject in schools, according to the amendments to the general secondary education standard approved by the government on Tuesday April 16.…

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Estonia’s Kaja Kallas backs Mark Rutte for NATO top job

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas — herself an unofficial candidate for NATO's top job — said she backs her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte for the secretary-general post. "For a strong…

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To fight Russia, Estonia must increase its defence spending, warns military head

The head of Estonia's military said that his country needs to double defence spending over the next two years to stockpile enough munitions to inflict a decisive defeat on any…

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Latvian Foreign Minister resigns amid private jet scandal, EU ambitions affected

Latvian Foreign Minister Krišjānis Kariņš announced his resignation on Thursday, engulfed by a scandal on taking private jets to official meetings. His departure effectively eliminates him as a challenger to…

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Estonian PM Kallas to BBC: Putin afraid of war with NATO

Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in an interview to BBC that Russian leader Vladimir Putin is very good at sowing fear in Western societies, while he is also afraid of…

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Latvia probes MEP for Kremlin spying

Media reports in Latvia claimed the country's VDD state security services had formally opened a criminal investigation into Tatjana Zdanoka, a member of the European Parliament, on suspicion of espionage.…

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Estonia stops a hybrid operation by Russia and arrests ten

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas revealed that the country’s security service had broken up a Russian hybrid operation. The operation involved damaging property and defacing monuments, including an attack on…

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Russia will not intimidate me, Estonia’s Kallas says

By John Irish Kallas seen as potential candidate for top EU job Russia has placed her on wanted list Kallas pushing for EU bonds for defence spending MUNICH, (Reuters) -…

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No chance Putin will attack NATO says Lithuanian general

As fears grow among European officials about a potential Russian assault on NATO, the commander of Lithuania's armed forces is keeping cool. “This year, next year, the possibility or the…

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Latvia’s Foreign Minister Karins eyes NATO top job

Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins on Sunday declared his interest in becoming NATO’s next secretary-general, throwing his hat in the ring for the much contended race to succeed Jens Stoltenberg…

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Estonia accuses Russia of stoking migrant influx

Estonian Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said on Thursday Russia extended a provocative measure, originally aimed at Finland, to Estonia by “deliberately” allowing asylum seekers without visas or residence permits to reach…

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Three Baltic pipe and cable incidents ‘are related’, Estonia says

By Andrius Sytas and Anne Kauranen VILNIUS/HELSINKI, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The three incidents that resulted in damage to a gas pipeline and two telecom cables between Estonia, Finland and…

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NATO boosts Baltic patrols

BRUSSELS, (Reuters) - NATO is stepping up patrols in the Baltic Sea following recent damage to undersea infrastructure in the region, the transatlantic military alliance said. "The increased measures include…

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Estonia’s Kallas dismayed by Hungary’s Orban handshake with “criminal” Putin

By John Irish The images of EU member state Hungary's prime minister shaking hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin were "very, very unpleasant" and defied logic given Budapest's past history…

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Lithuania calls for more money for Ukraine in EU budget review

By Jan Strupczewski The European Union should earmark more cash to support Ukraine in its revised long-term budget and top up the funds for EU military mobility, Lithuanian finance minister…

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Lithuania summons Pope’s diplomat over remarks on Russian empire heritage

VILNIUS, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Majority-Catholic EU member Lithuania has summoned the Vatican's top diplomat in the country after Pope Francis told Russian youths to remember they are the heirs…

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Estonia PM Kallas under pressure to quit over husband’s Russia ties

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas faced pressure to resign after reports that her husband has part ownership of a company that has kept operations…

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Latvia’s prime minister announces resignation

RIGA, Aug 14 (Reuters) - Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins announced his resignation on Monday, blaming a breakdown in relations with parts of his multi-party governing government. "This Thursday I…

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Edgars Rinkevics elected president of Latvia

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Latvia's parliament has elected long-serving Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics as the country's next president, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins said. Rinkevics will represent Latvia, a European Union and…

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Lithuania’s ruling party seeks snap election amid expenses scandal, says government may resign

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's ruling Homeland Union party said it will propose a snap parliamentary election and that the government may resign if the assembly turns down the request. The…

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Lithuania passes legislation allowing border guards to turn back migrants

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament passed legislation allowing border guards to turn back migrants who cross its frontier illegally, brushing away concerns from human rights organizations. Lithuania,…

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Estonia charges six ex-Danske Bank branch staff in money laundering case

Estonia's state prosecutor said on Monday she had charged six people with laundering at least $1.6 billion and 6 million euros ($6.58 million) at the defunct Estonian office of Danske…

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Estonia PM focused on defence spending and same sex marriage law

By Andrius Sytas TALLINN, (Reuters) - Kaja Kallas said she was focused on her next term as Estonian prime minister despite media speculation she could be in the running to…

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Estonia’s Kaja Kallas secures government coalition agreement

Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has reached an agreement with two other political parties to form a new coalition government. The coalition deal will be formally signed on Monday. About…

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Lithuania bans Russians from purchasing real estate

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Lithuania's parliament decided to ban Russian nationals from purchasing real estate in the Baltic country, citing risks to national security. The ban, which will be in place…

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RAF and German jets intercept Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace

The BBCreported that RAF and German fighter jets have intercepted a Russian aircraft near Estonian airspace in the first joint operation of its kind. The two Typhoons were scrambled on…

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Estonia’s Kallas in first place in parliamentary election

By Andrius Sytas TALLINN (Reuters) - The Reform party of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas secured first place in Sunday's parliamentary election, a result that should ensure Tallinn remains one…

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Estonia goes to polls in a test for pro-Kyiv government

TALLINN, March 5 (Reuters) - Estonians go to the polls on Sunday as one of Europe's most staunchly pro-Kyiv governments faces a challenge from a far-right party seeking to capitalise…

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Estonia procured twice as much ammunition in 2022 than in previous 30 years

In 2022 and in the wake of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Estonian state acquired double the volume of ammunition as it had in the preceding 30 years,…

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United States says ready to defend Baltic allies

VILNIUS (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the United States was ready to defend the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania if required, and will keep its…

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Estonian intelligence service says Baltic security risk rising

VILNIUS, Feb 8 (Reuters) - The EFIS, Estonia's intelligence service said on Wednesday it believed Russia still has the strength to exert "credible military pressure" on the Baltic region and…

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Lithuania may tax windfall bank profits, boost defence spending

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, Feb 6 (Reuters) - Lithuania may introduce a windfall tax on banks if profits continue to soar this year on the back of rising interest rates,…

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Photo Story: Bank of Latvia releases ‘For the Freedom of Ukraine’ collectors’ coin

Ukrainian freedom coin on display at the Bank of Latvia in Riga, Latvia, 26 January 2023. Bank of Latvia has issued a silver collectors' coin dedicated to Ukraine's fight for…

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Lithuania gas explosion blamed on technical malfunction

A powerful gas pipeline explosion that prompted the evacuation of a village in northern Lithuania was most likely caused by a technical malfunction, the head of the country’s natural gas…

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UPDATED: Lithuania-Latvia gas pipeline blows up, but no sign of attack

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, Jan 13 (Reuters) - A gas pipeline connecting Lithuania and Latvia was hit by an explosion on Friday but there was no immediate evidence of an…

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U.S. judge accepts Danske Bank guilty plea in $2 bln pact to end Estonia probe

A U.S. judge on Thursday accepted Danske Bank's guilty plea to a bank fraud conspiracy charge and agreement to pay more than $2 billion to end probes into anti-money laundering…

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Photo Story: Christmas decorations in Riga

People look at Christmas decorations in Riga, Latvia. Via EPA-EFE/TOMS KALNINS

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Municipalities in Estonia to decide on electric scooter speed limits

The Ministry of Economy has finalized amendments to the Road Traffic Act, which, among other things, will give municipalities the right to impose speed limits on electric scooters, specify parking…

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Photo Story: Christmas tree made of solar panels in Trakai, Lithuania

A Christmas tree made of solar panels is erected in Trakai, Lithuania. The Christmas tree from solar panels generates energy and illuminates itself and, after the festive period, will contribute…

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Estonia military expert warns no cause of optimism Russia about to run out of conventional munitions

Winter in Ukraine will see mutual barrages on enemy positions and continued Russian attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. Russia may have lost the initiative in the war, while there are no…

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Two Estonian citizens arrested in $575 million cryptocurrency fraud, money laundering scheme

Two Estonian citizens were arrested in Tallinn, Estonia, on an 18-count indictment for their alleged involvement in a $575 million cryptocurrency fraud and money laundering conspiracy, the U.S. Justice Department…

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Lithuania calls for more air defences along NATO’s eastern border

VILNIUS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - NATO should swiftly deploy more air defences on the Polish-Ukrainian border and the rest of the alliance's eastern flank, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda said on…

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EU needs to work on a tribunal to hold Russia accountable – Latvia PM

BRUSSELS, Oct 21 (Reuters) - The European Union must remain united in its support for Ukraine and should start working on holding Russia legally accountable for its activities in the…

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Latvian PM calls on EU to end all tourist visas for Russians

Latvia’s prime minister, Krisjanis Karins, has called on EU leaders to stop all tourist visas for Russians, reigniting the debate about further tightening sanctions against Vladimir Putin’s Russia. Speaking to…

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UPDATED: Latvia to remain Russia’s critic as prime minister wins election

RIGA, Oct 2 (Reuters) - The centre-right New Unity party of Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins won Saturday's election, according to provisional results, with its 19% of the vote putting…

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Latvian PM’s New Unity party ahead in vote, exit poll shows

RIGA (Reuters) - The centre-right New Unity party of Latvian prime minister Krisjanis Karins appeared set to win Saturday's national election, a LETA/LSM exit poll showed, with security concerns dominating…

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