Estonian Prime Minister rejects Russia's arrest warrant

Prime Minister Kallas dismissed Russia's arrest warrant as an attempt to intimidate her, insisting she was not afraid.

"The arrest warrant is only intended to intimidate me and make me restrain my planned decisions. It is just a Russian trick and is not surprising. We are not afraid," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said in an interview on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 18.

Estonian politicians are only at risk of arrest if they set foot on Russian territory. Otherwise, the arrest warrants have no real consequences.

The Russian Interior Ministry on February 13 issued a warrant for the arrest of Prime Minister Kallas and Estonian Foreign Minister Taimar Peterkop, but has not yet filed charges against the two officials. Russia's TASS news agency quoted a source as saying the reason for the arrest was "for destroying or damaging monuments to Soviet soldiers" in Estonia.

However, Ms Kallas said speculation that she could take up the post of European Union (EU) foreign policy chief after parliamentary elections in June had prompted the arrest warrant.

"The Russians heard this. That's why they issued the arrest warrant to underline the strongest argument that I am a provocateur against Russia," she said.

Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Brussels, Belgium, in December 2021. Photo: Reuters — Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas in Brussels, Belgium, in December 2021. Photo: *Reuters*

Ms. Kallas has been Prime Minister of Estonia since January 2021. She has repeatedly called Russia a "permanent threat to the security of Western countries," called for its isolation, and approved the decision to demolish Soviet-era monuments in Estonia, which were built to commemorate those killed in World War II.

Estonia has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since Russia launched its war in February 2022, and Ms Kallas has also played a prominent role in pushing for more EU support for Ukraine.

Asked about the possibility of taking on a role in the EU in the future, Ms Kallas stressed "we are not thinking about that. I am the Prime Minister of Estonia".

Thanh Tam (According to Reuters )

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