Russia declares Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas wanted for arrest
Russia on Tuesday morning declared Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s prime minister, wanted in a criminal case about which the Kremlin declined to provide information. According to the Russian Interior Ministry’s database, Kallas is “wanted under the Criminal Code”, without specifying any of the charges.
She is not the only foreign leader on Putin’s list. The Estonian government’s state secretary, Taimar Peterkop, has also been included on the Kremlin’s wanted list. Both convinced of the importance of European support for Ukraine, Kallas and Peterkop have been two of the strongest voices against Russian aggression.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, ‘a case has been opened against Kallas and Peterkop for the destruction of and damage to monuments to Soviet soldiers’. A reference to the Kallas government’s dismantling of several Soviet sculptures.
The 46-year-old Estonian leader took office in January 2021, becoming the first woman to head the Baltic country’s government. In March last year, Kallas was re-elected after her party won the legislative elections.
