The ban on Russians from entering Estonia provoked a huge queue at the border

Member of the European Parliament Yana Toom criticized the actions of the Estonian authorities, believing that this could lead to a civil conflict. People are indeed expressing dissatisfaction, especially those who are somehow connected with this country.

“Since 2007, I have not had any visas, except for Estonian ones,” says Aleksey. – Over the past 15 years, I have traveled only to Estonia (even the border guards were surprised – why only here?), Here we both worked and rested, my wife and I have more than 90% of friends and just good acquaintances in Estonia (among which there are only ethnic Russians two), this has been the case since the 70s of the last century.

We understood the attitude of Estonians towards Russians during the collapse of the Union – this was understandable, we have always supported both our friends and the statehood of Estonia, actively helping to resolve many issues (I even have a state award from the Estonian state), but today I became for Estonia a face she no longer wants to see. Simply because I have the wrong passport. Today we called up with friends – everyone is in shock.

There is a small exception to the ban. For example, sanctions do not apply to employees of diplomatic missions, members of their families, as well as those involved in international transportation. Close relatives of Estonian citizens and holders of a residence permit in the country will also not be touched. The restrictions will not affect Russians in need of humanitarian assistance, and those who have the right to free movement under EU law.

Although the entry ban has been in effect since August 18, there is no guarantee that you will now be able to successfully enter Estonia. Border guards may not let you in for various reasons. There are stories when people who were traveling, for example, to Italy with an Italian Schengen visa, were not allowed to pass, were hung up at the entrance to Estonia for many hours, and then sent back. The reasons are different: they may not be allowed in due to the lack of a return ticket or insufficient cash with them.

“On July 18, Estonians turned around our friend with two small children at the border,” says one of the tourists, “shows her passport with a visa, and the border guards answer, they say, the visa has been canceled and the stamp is put. The reason, of course, is not named.

Later, recovering from the shock, a friend noticed that the date was 13.07, when the visa was canceled.

Everything was done through an agency. And the agency refused to book a hotel in France before she left Russia (a friend flew to her sister in France, and she would only need a hotel to open a visa. They didn’t bother with invitations). And it turns out that after the visa was issued, someone checked this reservation, or rather its absence, and canceled the visa.

A friend who works at a travel agency says that the agency was 100% informed about the cancellation of the visa. But why it didn’t notify the client, no one knows.”

People are also worried about the growing queue at the Russian-Estonian borders. “It looks like hell will be at the border tomorrow, due to the news of the ban,” someone rightly remarked on social media the day before. Now tourists have to wait ten hours or more to get into the country. The same applies to drivers. More than 700 cars are now waiting in line to cross the Narva-Ivangorod border. Some people believe that the Estonian customs officers detain cars on purpose, while they are ready to create inconvenience even for their own citizens. About what the Russian-speaking population of Estonia thinks about what happened, told editor-in-chief of MK-Estonia Andrey Mokievsky

– Of course, this applies more to the citizens of Russia, – Andrey said, – It does not really affect the inhabitants of Estonia, except, perhaps, those who work in the service sector. For example, hotel employees.

– Will those who come, for example, to close people, experience difficulties?

— In social networks, you can find out the opinion of people. You can visit relatives, as far as I know. There is a fairly large category of people who are not denied access. Those Russians who already live here are not affected by the ban.

According to the head of the Association of Russian Citizens of Estonia, Vladimir Kursky, the country’s prime minister is losing his mind. “When she recalls that her mother told her about how they rode in the car, she certainly does not say how the Siberians shared bread with them in half.”

– How can the rights of Russians in Estonia be protected now?

– The Russians have only two friends – the army and the navy. I think that when the conflict in Ukraine ends, then the world will change. And people who disagree with American policy in Europe will speak more openly. Hillary Clinton once mentioned the creation of the United States of Europe, and everything is moving towards this. Everyone sees that all these sanctions undermine the stronghold of the European Union, the German economy. In the West, the Soros people are now in power, as, indeed, in Estonia.

– What do the residents of Estonia think about what is happening?

– People’s opinions are completely different. Not everyone is ready to speak directly about their position. Many Estonians complain about the Russian media. The whole trouble is that the Americans once won the information platform, because of this there are a lot of troubles now.