Russia riding new avenues of impact

Photo: Toomas Tatar

According to Internal Security Service (ISS, Kapo), local Russian minority mentality is not conducive to letting provocateurs foment an atmosphere of conflict.

The impact of Russian extremists in Estonia having become marginal, the Eastern neighbour is seeking new ways to have an impact, targeting Estonian politicians and local Slavic youth, says Kapo’s new annual review. 

«Extremists do not find much resonance in the country, and their ability to amass people is relatively low. Year after year, it is the same bunch of 15–20 people plus as much onlookers,» said Kapo director general Arnold Sinisalu.

His words found confirmation last Saturday, as a demonstration in Tallinn organised by Dmitri Linter and Juri Žuravljov, in favour of the annexation of Crimea, only gathered a few dozen people.

Counteraction needed

Even so, as admitted by Mr Sinisalu, due to the Ukrainian backdrop these past weeks have posed the need for moderate counter-activities. For instance, certain people crossing the border have been blacklisted; organisers of demonstrations have been issued written notifications informing them on the differences of voicing one’s opinion and stirring up hostility.

A major conclusion of the annual review published yesterday is that, over these past years, the mentality is lacking amongst the Russian minority allowing provocateurs to re-create the conflict atmosphere prevalent during the April 2007 unrest. That’s both good and bad – on the one hand decreasing the danger of local movements surfacing; on the other hand, however, external pressure from Russia has increased. Simply put, this is divided into two: «soft power» i.e. spreading ideology, and attempts to organise military aggression to the tune of Ukraine.

Lately, ISS has indeed noticed an activation of Russian influence activities. For instance, last year the local Russian Compatriots Coordination Council was added an economic sector, tasked with finding businessmen ready to finance organisations or activities enhancing Russian compatriots’ policy in Estonia. As found out by Kapo investigators, the council is actually opposing integration so that the Russian minority would not succeed too well in Estonia.

Youth lured

For the same purpose, a compatriots- legal protection centre was established in Tallinn in 2012, financed by Russia. The activities of the centre surfaced at a training organised in Narva, in December last year, where new people were recruited into the Russian compatriots policy. The favoured target group was young people, who are generally more susceptible to Russian propaganda.

Children were the focus on the military-sports camp Soyuz, organised last year for children from Russia, CIS states and the Baltics. A group of kids was sent to the camp from Maardu. The Kapo review states that the foundations financed from Russia do have the youth as their new target as ones having no personal relationship with the Soviet Union and nostalgia of the era.

Mr Sinisalu added that these same foundations are seeking close contacts with Estonian politicians. «For instance: last year, there was an event organised by Gortšakov Foundation trying to involve several Riigikogu members, specifically the younger ones,» said Mr Sinisalu. Such attempts to approach youth organisations of political parties have been going on for years, however, and the goal is one – drawing future decision-makers into their circles early on.

Mr Sinisalu was careful not to comment on how many active politicians might be involved in activities of foundations financed by Russia. He did confirm, however, that Kapo has had no reasons to interrogate the mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar who recently voiced his support of the Russian referendum in Crimea.

«We haven’t talked with Mr Savisaar. His statements have been clear enough and he’s probably busy cementing his voters. I suppose he knows what he is doing,» thinks Mr Sinisalu.

The politicians Yana Toom, Mihhail Stalnuhhin and Mihhail Kõlvart who, in 2012, were fighting for the keeping of Russian as academic language at schools and thus entered the Kapo orbit of interest, have pulled back somewhat in their activities according to Mr Sinisalu. «Their activities are more concealed now, but there is now sign of them having given up their ideas,» he said.

Last Friday, circuit court judged Kapo had illegally published information on Yana Toom in its review of two years ago, overruling a former decision by administrative court. As confirmed to journalists by Mr Sinisalu, yesterday, Kapo intends to contest the decision in Supreme Court.