Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been declared “wanted” by Russia, along with Estonia’s State Secretary Taimar Peterkop and Lithuania’s Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, as announced on Tuesday.
The decision to list Kallas and the Baltic lawmakers as “wanted” individuals was made public on the website of Russia’s interior ministry, where they were identified as being “wanted under the criminal code.”
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov later clarified that Kallas and the others were being pursued for their alleged involvement in hostile actions against Russia and for what was described as the “desecration of historical memory.”
“These are people who take hostile actions against historical memory and our country,” Peskov emphasized during a press briefing.
A Russian security source, speaking anonymously to state-run TASS news agency, revealed that the charges against the trio were linked to the “destruction of monuments of Soviet soldiers” from World War II.
Kallas, known for her staunch support of Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has been a vocal advocate within the European Union and NATO for providing increased military aid to Ukraine. Her advocacy has placed her at odds with Russia’s actions and policies in the region.
The move by Russia to list Kallas and the others as “wanted” individuals marks a significant escalation in tensions between Russia and Estonia, as well as the broader Baltic region, amid ongoing geopolitical challenges and conflicts in Eastern Europe.
