The message being circulated is about the situation of ethnic Russians in Estonia.
According to M. Zakharova, Estonia hastily adopted another discriminatory law directed against “non-citizens” holders of “grey passports” – that’s how people are called in Estonia, mostly ethnic Russiansliving in this Baltic country.
“This time they have been deprived of the right to bear arms. What is the Estonian government afraid of? Let them answer this question for themselves. I will only say that the last time the ban on carrying weapons for ethnic groups was introduced was… Adolf Hitler”, – stated A representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia”.
Since M. Zakharova compared the policy of the Estonian authorities with the policy of ethnic discrimination and even genocide of the Nazis, it is necessary to determine the main principles that the Nazis followed.
This was the basis during the Nazi regime The Reich Nationality Law and the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honorin which racial (blood) citizenship criteria were determined:
“1. A citizen of the Reich can only be a subject of German or kindred blood who has proved by his conduct that he is ready and worthy to serve the German people and the Reich faithfully… 3. Only a citizen of the Reich has all political rights under the law.”
Scanpix photo/Adolf Hitler
Everyone else was given a deliberately lower “subject” status, and Jews were subject to additional restrictions. Special ordinances determined the appropriate proportions of blood “impurities” that determined the legal status of a particular person.
Clearly, race and ethnicity were the primary and irrevocable determinants of citizenship in this case.
Migrants of the occupation period
The status of “non-citizen” exists in Estonian law. Legally, non-citizens are citizens of the Soviet Union who moved to Estonia during the occupation and therefore do not have the right to citizenship by birth.
in Estonia lives about 1.3 million people, about a quarter of the population speak Russian. Many of the latter, whose parents and grandparents were brought here during the Soviet occupation, either have Russian passports or no citizenship at all. It is estimated that there are about 80-90 thousand such “non-citizens” in the country.
When Estonia regained its independence in 1991, citizenship was automatically granted to those people who were Estonian citizens before the Soviet occupation. Russians who came to Estonia after the war were instructed to pass language and history exams.
AP/Scanpix/Russian President Vladimir Putin
The rights and duties of “non-citizens” are regulated in Estonia Aliens Law.
Compared to other foreigners and stateless persons, immigrants from the period of Soviet occupation even enjoy certain privileges.
For example, Article 232 sets the conditions for issuing a permit to live permanently (for a long time) in Estonia, but certain requirements do not apply to “a foreigner who settled in Estonia before 1990″. on July 1, actually lived and lives in Estonia, has not left here for any other country and his life in Estonia does not harm the interests of the Estonian state”.
In 2020, the Estonian Parliament even adopted amendments that would make it easier for children of stateless residents to obtain a passport.
According to the amendments, children will be able to become Estonian citizens if one of their parents (or grandparents) does not have citizenship and has been living in the country since August 20, 1991, and the other parent is a citizen of a foreign state.
If a minor has the citizenship of another country, he will have to give it up in order to become an Estonian citizen.
Prior to the entry into force of these amendments, the laws allowed for a simplified procedure to grant citizenship to children from families where both parents have “gray” (“non-citizen”) passports.
Afraid to attack “to defend”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia is determined to “protect” the interests of compatriots living in other countries.
The Kremlin often criticizes Latvia and Estonia, saying that the Russians who live there, who do not have any citizenship, are discriminated against.
Read more: Why does Estonia refuse dual citizenship?
M. Zacharova repeatedly threatened Lithuania as well. One of the most memorable incidents are the statements made after the ban on the transportation of dual-purpose Russian goods through Lithuania.
“Both Lithuania and the European Union were told through their diplomatic missions in Moscow that their actions are unacceptable, that the steps taken must be changed. Also that the situation must be returned to a legal and legitimate course.
If this is not done, then, of course, and this was emphasized at all levels in Moscow, our retaliatory actions will be inevitable,” M. Zakharova argued at the time.
Read more: The creators of lies are on the rampage: Lithuanian Russians are advised to prepare for war
It has already entered into force in Lithuania
In January of this year, the Seimas voted for amendments to the Law on Arms and Ammunition.
According to them, permanent residents of the country who are not citizens of countries that meet the criteria of European and transatlantic integration chosen by Lithuania would be prohibited from purchasing and possessing weapons in Lithuania.
Citizens of these states, including Russia and Belarus, would not be able to purchase and possess weapons, weapon accessories, ammunition, and their parts.
Laurynas Kasčiūnas, chairman of the National Security and Defense Committee of the Seimas, initiated the amendments emphasizedthat this is to prevent the formation of groups in favor of hostile states.
He emphasized that this would prevent potential tensions and ensure security.
As announced by TV3 televisionat the time of the adoption of the law, there were almost 300 citizens of Russia and about 50 citizens of Belarus who had the right to own a weapon. They will have to give them up within the period provided by law.
Reuters/Scanpix photo/Hunting gun
15min Verdict: Lie. “The status of “non-citizen” in Estonia has nothing to do with race or ethnicity. For this reason, Ms. Zakharova’s accusations of discrimination against ethnic Russians are unfounded. Comparisons with Nazi policies (where race and ethnicity were always a determining factor regardless of citizenship) are also unwarranted.
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