Tallinn, Estonia. File photoHELSINKI, Aug 29The Estonian Interior Ministry is preparing a law restricting the right of Russian citizens to buy real estate in the republic, Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said.
" was in the ministry as a proposal, but the ministry lacked the political will for it. I set the task for the ministry to start preparing a draft law on restricting the right of Russian citizens to buy real estate in Estonia,» the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs told Postimees.
The minister did not give other details. He explained that the department is now analyzing the situation and, based on this, will propose a solution. «We cannot yet comment on who and how this will affect. It will take time,» Läänemets concluded. This is not the first proposal to restrict Russian citizens in their rights in Estonia. So, on Monday morning, Vice-Chancellor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Veiko Kommusaar said that Russians who already own real estate in the country could lose it. Local banks have stopped accepting payments from Russia, and since August 18, Tallinn has banned the entry of Russians on a Schengen visa issued by Estonia if they declare tourism, business, sports or culture as the purpose of the trip. As Kommusaar explained, if the owner of the property does not find a way to maintain it, and the utility bills become indebted, «there may be this extreme consequence.» According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Russian citizens own 41,351 properties in Estonia. Mostly owned by Russians with residence permits, but approximately 4,500 people could lose access to their property due to a visa ban. Russians and threatened to take away their property