Russia declared Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas “wanted” on Tuesday because of her efforts to remove Soviet-era Second World War monuments in the Baltic nation.
It marks a deterioration in relations between Russia and the Baltics, all of which were occupied by the former Soviet Union and have sizeable Russian minorities.
Ms Kallas’s name appeared on the Interior Ministry’s register of people wanted in connection with criminal charges. It did not specify what charges the Estonian leader was facing. The list includes scores of officials and politicians from other Baltic nations.
It is the first time the ministry has put a foreign leader on a wanted list.
The inclusion of Ms Kallas appears to reflect the Kremlin’s effort to up the ante in the face of pressure from Nato allies as the Ukraine war nears its two-year mark.
Ms Kallas has been a strong supporter of Ukraine, spearheading efforts to increase military assistance to Kyiv and tighten sanctions against Russia.
She also has angered Moscow by pushing for the removal of monuments to Soviet Second World War soldiers. Russia has laws criminalising the “rehabilitation of Nazis” that include clauses for punishing the desecration of war memorials.
Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop also features on the list, according to the register.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said they were added “over the destruction of monuments to Soviet soldiers”.
“Crimes against the memory of the liberators of the world from Nazism and fascism must be punished,” she said. "And this is just the beginning."
The Kremlin said those declared wanted had taken “hostile actions against historical memory” and Russia.
“These are the people who are responsible for decisions that are actually an abuse of historical memory,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
There was no immediate reaction from Estonia, which has viewed the monuments as unwelcome symbols of its occupation under the USSR.
'Total Russophobia'
Moscow downgraded its diplomatic relations with Estonia in January last year and ordered the country's ambassador to leave Russia, accusing the Baltic country of “total Russophobia”.
All three Baltic states – Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania – had already expelled Russian diplomats from their countries amid tensions over the conflict in Ukraine.
Their relations with Moscow have remained tense since they gained independence in the early 1990s during the collapse of the Soviet Union, which they always viewed as an occupying power.
While the hundreds of monuments built in the Soviet-era had long been derided by many in the Baltics, Russia's assault on Ukraine led to a full-scale push for their removal.
The war has also raised fears of a possible armed confrontation with Russia, with all three Baltic Nato members boosting spending on their military and strengthening border defences.
Tensions have also simmered over the rights of the Russian minority in Baltic states.
Moscow this month summoned diplomats from the three neighbours after accusing the states of trying to sabotage next month's Russian presidential election.
Moscow had accused the three states of ignoring Russian requests to provide security for voting stations at its embassies on their soil.
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General admission Dh295 (under-three free)
Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free
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Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
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