Russia puts leader of Estonia on wanted list over removal of WWII monuments
Estonia’s prime minister has been put on a wanted list in Russia because of her efforts to remove Soviet-era World War II monuments, officials said Tuesday.
According to a report from The Associated Press, tensions between Russia and the West have been soaring amid the war in Ukraine.
Russian media reports say Kaja Kallas’ name appears on the Interior Ministry’s register of people wanted on criminal charges, but it was not clear when she was added to the list.
AP News said the ministry didn’t specify what charges Kallas faces, but other officials said the move was related to her efforts to remove WWII monuments. It is the first time the ministry has put a foreign leader on a wanted list.
Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys are also on the list, which is accessible to the public, along with scores of officials and lawmakers from Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.
There was no immediate reaction from Estonian authorities.