Egert Belitšev, head of the border guard department of the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), believes that, if and when, Russia closes its borders to prevent mobilized men living in nearby regions from leaving the country, this will create additional pressure on Estonia's borders.
Egert Belitšev, head of the border guard department of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA), said on the "Terevisioon" morning show that while the number of Russian citizens crossing the Estonian border has fallen, more people than previously are turned back.
The Russian Embassy is warning against acts of violence, which never happened, but a whole bunch of comrades considers it necessary to spread that message. There are enough of those still willing to justify Putin’s aggression against Ukraine. And there is no shortage of those, whose implacable struggle against the corona restrictions has been replaced by sharing incomprehensible conspiracy theories related to the war.
Estonian agencies practiced processing hundreds of daily asylum requests during a major exercise in 2019. While this aspect is considered today, the focus has shifted to defending the border in light of Belarus' attack. Deputy Director of the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) Egert Belitšev believes that an amendment allowing people who have entered the country illegally to be sent right back across the border is needed for emergency situations.