Russia has declared Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas a “wanted” person, according to a statement released by the country’s interior ministry on Tuesday.

The database maintained by Russia’s interior ministry now includes Kallas as one of the individuals “wanted under the criminal code.”

The Charges

Russian authorities accused Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s State Secretary Taimar Peterkop, and Lithuania’s Culture Minister Simonas Kairys of engaging in hostile actions against Russia and the “desecration of historical memory.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, in response to the inclusion of the Baltic lawmakers in the wanted list, stated, “These are people who take hostile actions against historical memory and our country.”

The three individuals are being prosecuted based on allegations of “destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers” during World War II, as confirmed by a Russian security source speaking on the condition of anonymity to TASS news agency.

Support for Ukraine

Kaja Kallas, known for her vocal support of Ukraine, has been actively advocating for Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s full-scale invasion that began in February 2022.

She has emerged as one of the strongest voices in the European Union and NATO, consistently pushing for increased support and aid, including the provision of more arms to Ukraine.

The developments regarding the inclusion of Kaja Kallas and the other Baltic lawmakers in Russia’s wanted list have raised concerns and drawn attention to the ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

Sources

Sources indicate that this report is based on information gathered from multiple reliable news agencies including AFP, Reuters, and EFE.