Emmanuel OchayiRussian Interior Ministry has placed Estonian Prime Minister, Kaja Kallas, and Lithuania’s Minister of Culture, Simonas Kairys, on its wanted list, citing accusations of monument destruction.
According to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Kallas is wanted for “desecration of historical memory,” while Kairys and other Baltic officials are accused of “destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers.”
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, emphasized, “Crimes against the memory of the world’s liberators from Nazism and fascism must be prosecuted.”
This move comes amidst tensions sparked by the Baltic States’ decision to dismantle Soviet-era monuments, with Estonia planning to remove hundreds of such structures.
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Responding to the situation, former Soviet Investigative Committee director Alexander Bastrykin ordered a criminal investigation.
However, the repercussions for the listed politicians are contingent on their crossing the Russian border.
Despite the severity of the accusations, authorities in Lithuania and Estonia have remained silent.
Meanwhile, numerous Baltic politicians, including former Latvian Interior Minister Marija Golubeva, have found themselves on Russia’s wanted list, though the specific criminal code article remains undisclosed.
The situation underscores the escalating diplomatic tensions between Russia and the Baltic States, highlighting differing interpretations of historical events and the contentious issue of monument preservation.
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen how both sides will navigate this delicate diplomatic terrain.
