Estonian PM on Russia’s ‘wanted’ list for destruction of Soviet-era monuments, 91 Indians also in database

estonian pm on russia’s ‘wanted’ list for destruction of soviet-era monuments, 91 indians also in database

Estonian PM on Russia’s ‘wanted’ list for destruction of Soviet-era monuments, 91 Indians also in database

New Delhi: Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has been placed on a “wanted list” by Russia for the destruction of monuments dedicated to Soviet soldiers in Estonia, the Russian ministry of foreign affairs said Tuesday.

“The Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs has put Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas and Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop on the wanted list for destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers,” said Maria Zakharova, spokesperson of the Russian foreign ministry on her personal Telegram channel.

Zakharova added, “The liberators of the world from Nazism and fascism must answer for crimes against memory! And this is just the beginning.”

Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told the media Tuesday, “These people are responsible for decisions that are actually tantamount to desecration of historical memory.”

Law enforcement officials told Russian news agency TASS that criminal proceedings have been initiated against officials from the Baltic countries for pulling down the monuments.

Kallas, who has led Estonia since 2021, has been one of the most vocal international leaders in support of Ukraine in its war against Russia. On X, Kallas said that after her name appeared on the Russian wanted list, “Russia’s move is nothing surprising. This is yet more proof that I am doing the right thing – the #EU‘s strong support to #Ukraine is a success and it hurts Russia.”

Kallas further said her mother and grandmother were “deported” to Siberia on the orders of the KGB, the foreign and domestic security agency of the former USSR.

Kallas’ news was leaked Tuesday by Mediazona, a Russian independent news outlet, which collected and collated the entire wanted database of Russia’s ministry of internal affairs. A total of 96,752 individuals were sought by the Russian ministry of internal affairs in criminal cases.

ThePrint accessed the database published by Mediazona and can confirm the findings of the number of Latvian parliamentarians, Estonian leadership and individuals from other countries wanted in Russia.

Indians and foreigners on the list

ThePrint found at least 91 Indians on Russia’s “wanted” database. The reasons were not mentioned, but in some cases, the ministry also announced a notice of withdrawal of a case against an Indian individual.

Of the 91 Indians on the list, five were women and 86 men. Apart from the Indians on the list, individuals from other countries wanted by the Russian government included those for political reasons.

Piotr Hofmański, the Polish jurist and president of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was also on the list. In March 2023, Hofmański and the ICC issued arrest warrants against Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, the commissioner for children’s rights, for the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Similarly, Andy Stone, the press secretary of Meta, is sought by the police for charges of aiding terrorism, according to Mediazona. The three Lithuanian judges, who, in 2019 ruled against Soviet officers in the brutal crackdown on Vilnius Television (TV) Tower in January 1991, were all wanted for “unjust” guilty verdicts handed to the officers.

On 13 January 1991, Soviet forces attacked the Vilnius TV Tower to crack down on pro-independence protestors in an attempt to prevent Lithuanian independence. Fourteen protesters lost their lives, including a young woman who was crushed by a tank.

Warrants have been issued against at least 176 Ukrainians for reasons that include participating in the war, public statements or connected to the Ukrainian authorities, according to Mediazona.

Fifty-nine of the 68 Latvian parliamentarians who voted for the termination of an agreement with Russia to protect Soviet memorials in the country found themselves on the wanted list, while various Latvian government officials including a former interior minister and two serving ministers were also wanted by Russian authorities, as reported by Mediazona.

(Edited by Tikli Basu)

News Related

OTHER NEWS

Guru Nanak Jayanti: Rishi Sunak Highlights Punjabi Heritage In Message, Trudeau Extends Greetings

In a greeting from 10 Downing Street on the occasion of Guru Nanak Jayanti, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mentioned his Punjabi Indian origin, news agency PTI reported. The 43-year-old ... Read more »

What US easing sanctions on Venezuela, home to world’s largest oil reserves, could mean for India

This report is the second of a three-part series on recent Indian engagement in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region. New Delhi: The US’ decision last month to ease ... Read more »

Rajshri Deshpande dedicates OTT award to innocent lives lost in Gaza, Palestine

Rajshri Deshpande dedicates OTT award to innocent lives lost in Gaza, Palestine Actor and social worker Rajshri Deshpande won the Best Actor, Series (Female) award for Netflix’s ‘Trial By Fire’. ... Read more »

‘Ramchandra Keh Gaye…’: From Jan 1, RSS to Spread Word of God, Ayodhya Inauguration Among 10 Crore People

‘Ramchandra Keh Gaye…’: From Jan 1, RSS to Spread Word of God, Ayodhya Inauguration Among 10 Crore People In its effort to take the Ram Janmabhoomi message to households across ... Read more »

Ace designer Rohit Bal critical, on ventilator: report

Ace designer Rohit Bal critical, on ventilator: report Celebrated fashion designer Rohit Bal is in critical condition and is on ventilator support, HT City reported, quoting sources. He has been ... Read more »

Bengaluru: Traffic Advisory Issued, Parking Restrictions In Place As Samyukta Horata Samiti Holds Protest | Details

Bengaluru: Traffic Advisory Issued, Parking Restrictions In Place As Samyukta Horata Samiti Holds Protest | Details The Bengaluru Traffic Police has issued a traffic advisory for November 27 and 28 ... Read more »

Vistara Flights Diverted Due To Air Congestion At Delhi Airport | DETAILS

vistara flights diverted due to air congestion at delhi airport | details Delhi: Two Vistara flight has been diverted to Lucknow and Jaipur due to bad weather and air congestion ... Read more »
Top List in the World