The Baltic states agreed to take the first blow of Russia
Estonia has long announced its ambitious plans to build a 2,5 meter high “Great Estonian Wall” along the border with Russia. In total, the border with Estonia is 338,6 km, of which 126 km passes by land. The task of the wall is to protect a small country from a powerful neighbor. At least that is how the Estonian authorities explain the need for construction.
Tracking systems, border posts, lighting - all this costs a lot of money. The other day in Estonia a scandal erupted. It turned out that the construction of the wall would have to pay not $ 79 million, as originally planned, but 197 million euros. The difference is significant. But the Estonian authorities claim that they will try to find money - and not only to beg the senior partners in NATO, but also to take from the budget, formed at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.
To explain the need for building the wall, Estonian officials are writing multi-page reports. Their interest is understandable - what else can one make money from in small and poor Estonia? Therefore, the construction of the wall and the constant cultivation of the myth of the Russian threat are aimed at maintaining the financial viability of Estonian officials.
Estonia is trying to present the West to the situation as if Russia was only thinking about how to capture a small and proud Baltic state. In fact, only one neighborhood with Russia is seen by the Estonian leadership as the main threat to national security. “Green men” are very afraid in Tallinn, especially when it is necessary to ask for the next tranche from NATO or the European Union. therefore political and Estonian military leaders constantly emphasize during their visits to European capitals how they fear Russian aggression and ask for money for protection.
Estonian leaders are no less concerned about the large number of Russian and Russian-speaking people living in the country. According to the 2011 census, Russians make up 24,8% of the Estonian population, and together with Ukrainians, Belarusians and “Russian speakers”, by which representatives of many other peoples are understood, all 30%. Most of the Russians are still Estonian citizens, however, the number of Russian citizens is also large - about 91 thousand people, as well as stateless persons (more than 80 thousand people).
The level of discrimination against Russian speakers in Estonia is somewhat lower than in neighboring Latvia. However, the country's authorities are doing everything possible to "re-educate" Estonian Russians. For example, a special project called "Guardians" was developed, which is aimed at forming a positive attitude towards NATO among the country's Russian population. The main objective of the project is to combat pro-Russian sentiments in Estonia. society and opposition to Russian propaganda.
Meanwhile, while politicians solve national security issues and knock out money for building the wall, the population of Estonia continues to decline - not only Russian-speaking, but also Estonian. Mass emigration to the West has become the hallmark of the Baltic republics. For some reason, many Estonian citizens do not want to build their small and proud country, but prefer to leave for the countries of Scandinavia, Great Britain or Germany. After all, there are higher salaries, and it’s more interesting to live.
Tracking systems, border posts, lighting - all this costs a lot of money. The other day in Estonia a scandal erupted. It turned out that the construction of the wall would have to pay not $ 79 million, as originally planned, but 197 million euros. The difference is significant. But the Estonian authorities claim that they will try to find money - and not only to beg the senior partners in NATO, but also to take from the budget, formed at the expense of ordinary taxpayers.
To explain the need for building the wall, Estonian officials are writing multi-page reports. Their interest is understandable - what else can one make money from in small and poor Estonia? Therefore, the construction of the wall and the constant cultivation of the myth of the Russian threat are aimed at maintaining the financial viability of Estonian officials.
Estonia is trying to present the West to the situation as if Russia was only thinking about how to capture a small and proud Baltic state. In fact, only one neighborhood with Russia is seen by the Estonian leadership as the main threat to national security. “Green men” are very afraid in Tallinn, especially when it is necessary to ask for the next tranche from NATO or the European Union. therefore political and Estonian military leaders constantly emphasize during their visits to European capitals how they fear Russian aggression and ask for money for protection.
Estonian leaders are no less concerned about the large number of Russian and Russian-speaking people living in the country. According to the 2011 census, Russians make up 24,8% of the Estonian population, and together with Ukrainians, Belarusians and “Russian speakers”, by which representatives of many other peoples are understood, all 30%. Most of the Russians are still Estonian citizens, however, the number of Russian citizens is also large - about 91 thousand people, as well as stateless persons (more than 80 thousand people).
The level of discrimination against Russian speakers in Estonia is somewhat lower than in neighboring Latvia. However, the country's authorities are doing everything possible to "re-educate" Estonian Russians. For example, a special project called "Guardians" was developed, which is aimed at forming a positive attitude towards NATO among the country's Russian population. The main objective of the project is to combat pro-Russian sentiments in Estonia. society and opposition to Russian propaganda.
Meanwhile, while politicians solve national security issues and knock out money for building the wall, the population of Estonia continues to decline - not only Russian-speaking, but also Estonian. Mass emigration to the West has become the hallmark of the Baltic republics. For some reason, many Estonian citizens do not want to build their small and proud country, but prefer to leave for the countries of Scandinavia, Great Britain or Germany. After all, there are higher salaries, and it’s more interesting to live.
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