Estonia will close all border crossings with Russia from 1 December.
This was announced by Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna.
He said the decision was taken after clear evidence that Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, organised a sabotage attack against an Estonian defence industry company.
Russia must realise that hostile actions against Estonia have consequences. Any attempts to intimidate, destabilise or undermine the country’s security will not go unanswered, Tsahkna stressed.
Closing the border checkpoints will reduce Russia’s ability to carry out hostile activity in Estonia and will strengthen the country’s efforts to combat sanctions evasion, the minister believes.
Tsahkna has already informed his counterparts in Finland, Latvia and Lithuania of the decision.
- Estonia’s Internal Security Service confirmed that Russia’s military intelligence agency, the GRU, ordered the organisation of an arson attack on the Estonian defence industry company Threod Systems on 14 November. The attempt was unsuccessful.
- The attack took place at night. Threod Systems is known to manufacture drones.