Vladimir Putin’s next target could be Estonia as the despot believes it is “part of the Russian empire”, the country’s prime minister has warned.
Earlier this year, Russian authorities placed Kaja Kallas, the prime minister of Estonia, on its list of wanted persons after accusing her administration of destroying or damaging monuments to Soviet soldiers.
She was placed on the list alongside Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, in a move she said was designed to “silence” her and other opposing heads of state.
The leader continued to rail against Russian officials in a recent interview where she claimed Estonia has suffered through “occupation and deportation” at the country’s hands.
In the same interview, she took aim at other Western European powers that have thrived since the end of World War Two while others suffered.
Darius Rochebin, a journalist for French broadcaster La Chaîne Info (LCI), posted a clip of his interview with the prime minister on X, formerly known as Twitter today.
During the short clip, Ms Kallas said her wanted notice shows Russia views Estonia as another country to add to its empire.
She said: “By ordering my arrest, Vladimir Putin wants to show that he doesn’t really consider Estonia as a country, but as part of the Russian empire.”
But she stood firm, stating: “The rules that apply in Russia are not valid in Estonia.”
Ms Kallas is among European leaders who have advocated for increased intervention in Ukraine, having said soldiers should enter the country in its support in December 2023, long before similar comments were made by her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron earlier this week.
She has thanked Mr Macron for his advocacy but at the same time noted the significant differences between her nation and the rest of Europe that have existed since World War II.
She told Mr Rochebin: “There’s peace and there’s peace. For you, since the Second World War, it has been freedom and prosperity. For us, it’s been occupation and deportation.”
The interview is not the first time she has spoken out against the Russian arrest warrant, as she previously said the Russian state has veiled “repressions” behind “so-called law enforcement agencies” with her mother and grandmother having been deported to Siberia following KGB warrants.
She said: “Throughout history, Russia has veiled its repressions behind so-called law enforcement agencies.
“The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and others – but it won’t. The opposite. I will continue my strong support to Ukraine.”
