Russia Places Estonia Prime Minister on Wanted List for Dismantling Soviet Monuments, According to Reuters

By Filipp Lebedev and Andrius Sytas

MOSCOW/VILNIUS – Russian authorities have placed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, Lithuania’s culture minister, and former members of the Latvian parliament on a wanted list over the demolition of Soviet-era monuments, as reported by the Russian interior ministry database.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that Kallas is being sought for the "desecration of historical memory." According to Russian state media, these Baltic officials are accused of "destroying monuments to Soviet soldiers," which could lead to a five-year prison sentence under Russian law.

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have taken down a significant number of their Soviet-era monuments, including those honoring Soviet soldiers who died in World War II. Once governed from Moscow, these countries are now members of both the European Union and NATO and have become strong advocates for Ukraine while criticizing Russia’s actions.

The governments of the Baltic states view these monuments as tools of propaganda from their former imperial ruler. In response to her designation as wanted, Kallas stated on the social media platform X, "The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and others – but it won’t. I will continue my strong support for Ukraine. I will continue to stand for increasing Europe’s defense."

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed solidarity with Kallas on social media, affirming that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not intimidate them and that both Spain and Europe will stand behind her.

While the Baltic politicians risk arrest if they enter Russia, the "wanted" designation is unlikely to have significant implications otherwise. The head of the Russian Investigative Committee, Alexander Bastrykin, initiated a criminal probe following the removal of the monuments. Furthermore, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, indicated that this action is just the beginning, asserting that offenses against the memory of "the world’s liberators from Nazism and fascism" must be addressed.

Among those listed are Estonian State Secretary Taimar Peterkop, Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys, and about 60 members of the previous Latvian parliament, which concluded its term in November 2022. Kairys remarked that the arrest order signifies his active and principled stance on the issue.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina condemned the Russian move as illegal and politically charged, asserting that Latvia would not yield to such intimidation attempts.

Additionally, several other Baltic officials, including mayors and the former Latvian interior minister, were also placed on the Russian wanted list.

Historically, the Baltic states were annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, occupied by Nazi Germany, and then returned to Soviet control until they regained independence with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Kallas had previously announced plans for Estonia to dismantle between 200 and 400 such monuments, and a Soviet tank memorial was taken down in Narva in August.

In Latvia, a significant monument commemorating the Soviet victory in World War II was demolished with a bulldozer, along with additional monuments throughout the country.

Historically, tens of thousands of Russian speakers in Latvia gathered around the Riga monument every May 9, but these gatherings have been prohibited since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Lithuania also removed numerous Soviet military memorials in 2022, including a notable group of sculptures in Vilnius.