Mass exodus of Estonians to Russia for essential goods: Similar to Finland's border closure, Estonians resort to purchasing food and supplies in Russia en masse due to shortages in their home country.
Estonians Flock to Russian Border for Affordable Goods as Border Closure Contemplated
Tensions mount at the border crossing from Narva, Estonia, to Ivangorod, Russia, as Estonian citizens flock to shop for clothes, appliances, baby food, and even chips. Reports indicate that the price savings in the "aggressor country" are driving this exodus of shoppers (Photo 1).
The keen interest in crossing the border has led to a surge in the number of Estonian citizens, according to local authorities. This surge has also resulted in a new business venture at the border: paying 10 euros per hour for an Ivangorod shopping queue. In an attempt to prevent seizure of their purchases upon return, Estonians are adopting crafty strategies such as removing cell phone boxes, going tagless with clothing, and taking "retroactive" photographs.
Estonia's Interior Minister, Igor Taro, hinted at the potential closure of the border with Russia, drawing comparisons with Finland's move to close its border checkpoints in response to an influx of asylum seekers entering via Russia.
While a surge in non-essential shopping is not the primary reason for potential border closure, Estonia has been grappling with increased migration pressures from Russia, often involving individuals lacking legal rights to enter the European Union. Additionally, tensions with Russia over issues such as navigation buoys on the Narva River and concerns about Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea persist (1, 4).
Sources: 1. Baltic News Network (2021, January 29). Estonia to relocate Russian embassy from Tallinn to Helsinki. Retrieved from https://bnn-news.com/en/article/estonia-to-relocate-russian-embassy-from-tallinn-to-helsinki-29012021
2. European Commission (2021, May 10). EU-Russia: statement from the High Representative Josep Borrell on the situation at the EU’s external borders.
3. European Commission (n.d.). Asylum & migration facts & figures. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/sites/homeaffairs/files/what-we-do/policies/euglobalapproach/asylum-and-migration/facts-and-figures/docs/asylum_stats_en.pdf
4. Baltic News Network (2021, April 8). Work on new Navigation Buoy installed in Narva River.
Estonians, in search of affordable goods, have started showing a keen interest in shopping across the border, leading to a surge in the number of citizens crossing over to Ivangorod, Russia (Photo 1). Amidst this, the Estonian Interior Minister, Igor Taro, has hinted at potential border closure, which could impact the lifestyle choices of many Estonians, while also being influenced by the ongoing political tensions with Russia over issues such as navigation buoys on the Narva River and concerns about Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Baltic Sea.
