MOSCOW, Aug 21 condemnation and prevention of the implementation of the plans of the Estonian authorities to limit the right to vote in local elections for citizens of Russia and Belarus, said the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in a commentary published on the website of the ministry.
Earlier it became known that the Estonian Ministry of Justice had prepared a bill to limit the right to vote in local elections for residents of the country with Russian citizenship, this measure also applies to citizens of Belarus. According to the Minister of Justice, this decision is due to the changed security situation in connection with the events in Ukraine. According to the Ministry of Justice, 67,000 Russian citizens live in Estonia.
«The local opposition and even partners in the ruling coalition are questioning the very constitutionality of the mentioned undertaking, not excluding the possibility of consulting on this matter in the specialized courts. However, since the bill comes from the party of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia Kai Kallas, it, apparently , may be «pushed through» in parliament,» the commentary says.
«We will closely monitor the development of the situation, seek from relevant international structures to condemn the openly racist plans of the Estonian authorities and prevent their implementation,» the Foreign Ministry stressed.
All local residents over the age of 16 now have the right to vote in municipal elections in Estonia, including citizens of other EU countries, citizens of third countries, as well as stateless persons. At the same time, only citizens of Estonia and other EU countries can run as a candidate for local self-government bodies.
Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian President Vladimir Putin called it the goal of «protecting people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» He noted that the special operation was a forced measure, Russia «was left no chance to do otherwise, security risks were created such that it was impossible to react by other means.» According to him, Russia has been trying for 30 years to agree with NATO on the principles of security in Europe, but in response it has faced either cynical deceit and lies, or attempts to pressure and blackmail, while the alliance, despite Moscow’s protests, is steadily expanding and approaching borders of the Russian Federation.