Statements by representatives of the Estonian authorities about territorial claims against Russia create additional tension in relations between the two countries. So the head of State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky in a conversation with TASS on Sunday, January 3.
“Such statements are increasingly postponing the prospects for ratification of the Russian-Estonian border treaty of 2014 and create additional tension in bilateral and inter-parliamentary cooperation,” Slutsky said, commenting on the words of the speaker of the Estonian parliament Henn Põlluaas that the The Tartu Peace Treaty between the RSFSR and Estonia is allegedly still valid.
According to the Russian politician, the statements of the Estonian parliamentarian are probably addressed to the domestic audience and are intended to increase his popularity among the electorate. At the same time, they have a negative impact on Russian-Estonian relations.
Earlier it was reported that Põlluaas noted during his New Year’s address to citizens that the Tartu Peace Treaty continues to operate, which means that part of the right bank of the Narva River and the Pechora region belongs to Estonia. At the same time, Moscow recognizes this agreement only as a historical document and does not consider it valid.
Negotiations on the border between Russia and Estonia have been going on for many years. In 2005, the parties signed the first border treaty, but during ratification the Estonian side included in it a reference to the Tartu Peace Treaty, after which Moscow withdrew the signature. In 2014, the countries signed a new agreement that has not yet been ratified.
In December 2020, the President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a law on punishing actions aimed at alienating the country’s territories. He also approved fines of up to 500 thousand rubles for public calls for such actions.
At the same time, the Estonian authorities reported on the completion of the installation of the first section of the fence with barbed wire on the border with Russia, which will contribute to security EU .