Estonia has cancelled its legal assistance agreement with Russia

Estonian President Alar Karis has signed a law cancelling the Estonian-Russian treaty on legal assistance and legal relations, the Estonian newspaper North Coast reported, citing a statement by the presidential office.

“On Monday, President Alar Karis proclaimed a law denouncing the legal assistance agreement between Estonia and Russia,” the report said.

According to the published information, the unilateral cancellation of the agreement is related to the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine.

According to the newspaper, in late March, the Estonian parliament approved a bill proposed by the government to terminate the Estonian-Russian treaty on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family and criminal matters. The cancellation of the treaty may create additional difficulties for Estonian residents, for example, when concluding or dissolving a marriage with a Russian citizen, as well as inheritance.

The legal assistance agreement between Estonia and Russia was in force since 1995 and was automatically extended for five years.

We will remind, earlier Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas threatened those wishing to obtain Russian citizenship with deportation. According to it, such a wish of citizens poses a threat to the country’s security.