Estonia

Estonia plans to extend military service to 12 months

Estonia plans to extend compulsory military service to 12 months for all conscripts starting in 2027, under reforms proposed by the government. A draft bill submitted by Defense Minister Hanno…

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Estonian Parliament to Santa: Thank You for Your Service, But Times Have Changed

Estonia’s parliament (Riigikogu) has opted to discontinue a long-standing Christmas ritual in which Santa Claus visited the Riigikogu to hand out tongue-in-cheek gifts—a practice now deemed past its prime. Traditionally,…

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Baltic states plan for mass evacuations in case of a Russian attack

Alarmed by Russia's vast military spending since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the three Baltic states are drawing up contingency plans to deal with the possibility of hundreds of thousands…

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Mayor of Estonia’s Capital Blames Alcohol Availability for Persistent Public Nuisance

Tallinn Mayor Jevgeni Ossinovski has emphasized the need for long-term structural solutions to address alcohol-related social issues in the capital, rather than superficial measures such as removing benches from public…

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New synthetic opioid spreads across the Baltic states

The widespread proliferation of nitazenes—a highly potent class of synthetic opioids—has emerged as a key factor behind the sharp increase in drug overdose deaths in Estonia in recent years, ERR.ee…

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Sweden to hire prison cells in Estonia for up to 600 inmates

Sweden will send up to 600 criminals to serve their sentences in an Estonian prison under an agreement announced by the government aimed at reducing pressure on the country's overcrowded…

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Estonia says Russia sent jet after attempt to stop sanction-breaking ship

Estonia said on Thursday that Moscow had briefly sent a military jet into NATO airspace over the Baltic Sea during an attempt to stop a Russian-bound oil tanker thought to…

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Skype’s Global Legacy: The Estonian-Founded VoIP Pioneer That Transformed Communication

The Estonian-founded Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology firm Skype will leave an enduring global legacy as a trailblazer for tech startups—not just in Estonia, but across the world—Aktuaalne kaamera…

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Recognizing Depression: Key Roles for Hairdressers, Nail techs and Pharmacists in Tallinn, Estonia

A new research project, "Depression-free Tallinn," proposes that those who already de facto end up in the role of counselor in their work – such as hairdressers, nail techs, librarians…

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Finland has seen rising threats to Baltic Sea subsea infrastructure

Finland has seen increased threats to subsea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea area in recent years, the Nordic country's Environment and Climate Minister Kai Mykkanen said on Friday. Finland and…

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Hot summer leads to Estonian butter shortage

Some stores in Estonia are experiencing a shortage of butter, which has been caused by the summer weather, producers believe. Farmi and Tere board member Ülo Kivine explained that the…

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Poland, Baltics call for EU defence line on border with Russia, Belarus

Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia called for the European Union to build a defence line along the bloc's border with Russia and Belarus to protect the EU from military threats…

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Pope Benedict’s ex-aide Archbishop Gaenswein appointed Vatican ambassador to Baltic countries

Pope Francis has given a new job to the former secretary of the late Pope Benedict XVI, in an apparent sign of reconciliation with the prelate after publicly falling out…

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Estonia Confirms Stance on EU Top Posts

The Estonian government has formalized its position on filling top European Union roles, a process that continues in the latter half of this year following the recent elections. Estonia's primary…

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Eight EU countries call for restricting Russian diplomats’ movement

Eight European Union foreign ministers called on the EU to ban Russian diplomats from moving freely around the bloc and restrict them to countries where they are accredited, in a…

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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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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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Estonian military suspects Russia preparing to launch major offensive in Ukraine

Russia may be preparing for a major offensive in Ukraine at the start of summer, indicated by troop reorganization and the mass bombing campaign, said Col. Ants Kiviselg, commander of…

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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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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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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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Tensions rise over future of the OSCE, Reports Russia blocked appointment of Malta as OSCE chairman

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe is at a standstill as Russia is blocking Estonia and now Malta from taking over as chair. Since 2021, the Organization for…

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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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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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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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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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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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Russia downgrades relations with NATO member Estonia, expels envoy

Jan 23 (Reuters) - Russia said on Monday it was downgrading diplomatic relations with NATO member Estonia, accusing Tallinn of "total Russophobia". The Russian Foreign Ministry said it had told…

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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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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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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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Baltic nations would welcome Ukraine’s accession to NATO

Foreign ministers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania said they would welcome Ukraine's accession to NATO "as soon as possible" after the country formerly applied to join the alliance on Friday.…

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Some Russian citizens in Estonia voluntarily turning in firearms

Police officials in Estonia said that some Russian citizens living in Estonia have begun voluntarily relinquishing their firearms as the country prepares for the implementation of planned changes to weapons…

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Estonian PM tells nation to prepare for blackouts if Russia switches off power grid

By Andrius Sytas VILNIUS, Sept 23 (Reuters) - Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas told her nation that power blackouts are possible if Russia kicks the Baltic states from the joint…

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Baltic states and Poland close doors to Russian tourists

NARVA, Estonia, Sept 19 (Reuters) - Four of the five European Union countries bordering Russia began turning away Russian tourists at midnight on Monday, saying they should not travel while…

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EU states bordering Russia searching for ways to halt tourist entry

European Union member States bordering with the Russian Federation, including Estonia, are actively holding talks to find jointly ways to limit scope for Russian citizens entering the European Union through…

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While rest of EU mourns, Baltics recall Gorbachev as agent of repression

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Widely praised in the West as a towering statesman who helped end the Cold War, Mikhail Gorbachev was remembered in the Baltic states as a repressive autocrat…

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Estonia aims to stop most Russians from entering country within weeks

(Reuters) - Estonia aims to stop most Russians from entering the country within weeks, if possible acting in concert with its regional partners, Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said. "It takes…

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SUVs to be requisitioned if Estonia declares defense emergency

SUVs will be requisitioned by the state should Estonia declare martial law or if there is an emergency related to defense, Eesti Ekspress reported. The Defense Resources Agency (Kaitseressursside Amet)…

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Estonia says it repelled major cyber attack

Estonia has repelled "the most extensive cyber attacks since 2007", shortly after removing Soviet monuments in a region with an ethnic Russian majority. Russian hacker group Killnet claimed responsibility for…

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Estonian visa cancellation has ordinary Russians worried

Estonia this week will close its border to more than 50,000 Russians with previously issued visas, the first country in the European Union to do so, making it harder for…

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Bolt to curb e-scooter speeds in Estonia

Estonia unicorn Bolt says it is cutting the maximum speed of its rental e-scooters, in the interests of promoting traffic safety. The top speed will be reduced to 17 km/h,…

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Estonia to stop Russians from entering with Estonian-issued visas

Estonia said it will from next week prevent most Russians from entering the country with visas issued by Estonian authorities, cutting off a popular route into Europe's passport-free Schengen zone.…

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Estonia protests to Russia about ‘unacceptable’ violation of its airspace

Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador and formally protested about the violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter on Tuesday, the foreign ministry said. "Estonia considers this an extremely serious…

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Estonia stops issuing visas, residence permits for Russian students

(Reuters) - Estonia announced it would no longer issue visas or residence permits for Russian citizens wanting to study in the small Baltic country, saying the invasion of Ukraine threatened…

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Estonian PM regains ruling majority, warns of tough times ahead

TALLINN (Reuters) - The new cabinet of Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas was sworn in on Monday, re-establishing political stability, but she warned of tough times ahead for the economy…

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Estonian parliament confirms PM Kallas to lead new government

The new Estonian coalition has voted to reappoint Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, in a move likely to ensure stability in the European Union state until a March 2023 election. The…

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Baltic tensions rise as Estonia protests to Russia over airspace violation

(Reuters) - Estonia summoned the Russian ambassador on Tuesday to protest an "extremely serious" violation of its airspace by a Russian helicopter, the second time in less than two weeks…

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