Estonia is taking decisive steps to tighten its border security with Russia amid concerns over a potential influx of migrants. Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets has accused Russia of conducting a “hybrid operation” using migrants, mirroring actions that led Finland to close its border with Russia, as reported by Reuters.
From November 16 to November 22, a significant number of migrants, predominantly from Somalia and Syria, attempted to enter Estonia through the Narva checkpoint from Russia.
However, all 75 migrants were denied entry and sent back. This development underscores Estonia's firm stance on controlling its borders in the face of increasing migration pressures.
Läänemets has stated that Estonia is fully prepared to shut down border crossings if the migration pressure from Russia escalates. The country is also ready to take measures against migrants attempting to enter Estonia from Russia outside the designated border checkpoints.
This move follows Finland's recent decision to close all but one of its border checkpoints with Russia. The remaining checkpoint, located in the far north and open for only four hours daily, was part of Finland's strategy to manage the flow of migrants.
The situation at the Estonia-Russia border has been tense, with reports from Fontanka on November 17 detailing how Estonian authorities were transporting concrete pyramids to the Friendship Bridge in preparation for a potential border closure.
This action, along with the border guards' efforts to turn away migrants at the EU border, highlights the growing concerns in the region regarding unregulated migration and border security.
