Estonian ISS chief: Extremists shouldn't be paid too much attention to

Photo: Kaitsepolitsei arhiiv

Extremists should not be paid too much attention to, but at the same time security might suffer if extremism grows and splits the society, director general of the Internal Security Service (ISS) Arnold Sinisalu wrote in the foreword of the freshly-published yearbook.

«We are convinced that Estonia's security is better protected than ever before which unfortunately does not mean that danger has decreased,» Sinisalu writes.

«It is worrying how easily some people forget that the armed conflict that started in Ukraine in 2014 continues to this day,» Sinisalu writes. «Russia is continuing with its attempts to split Europe and until the territorial integrity of Ukraine hasn't been restored, it cannot be said that security in Europe is guaranteed,» he added.

Sinisalu said that at the same time the European Union is struggling with the migration crisis which clearly has a security dimension in Estonia as well as Europe as a whole. «Against the background of Russia's aggression the weakening of the European Union is much more dangerous to the security of our countries than refugees being resettled in Estonia,» he added.

According to Sinisalu terrorists are trying to hide themselves among refugees and sometimes it might be quite difficult to distinguish between a person who really needs help from a person who potentially threatens security. «But it definitely should not result in seeing supposed terrorists in all refugees. Terrorism threat continues to be low in Estonia at the moment, but the general insecurity in the sphere in Europe is increasing and nothing can be ruled out,» Sinisalu writes.

«More and more people live in the virtual world where provoking social hostility is a lifestyle for anonymous cowards. Virtual is also the excuse of some former criminals and their followers for patrolling on the streets,» Sinisalu said, adding that the latter are just searching for something that is not there.

«Extremists should not be paid too much attention to, but we also shouldn't hide our head in the sand. Security might suffer is extremism grows and splits the society,» Sinisalu said.

According to Sinisalu Russia's influencing is to continue and certain methods for different spheres have been developed, and it is the task of the ISS to make public such activity.