One must want citizenshipEconomist and former politician Tiit Made proposed abolishing so-called gray passports and giving stateless persons a year to decide what country’s citizenship they want at a meeting of the August 20th Club last Sunday. “In that time, people can either learn the language or opt for Russian citizenship […] or leave,” Made told the Aktuaalne kaamera news program.Local News
The Russian claiming to be EstonianRussian citizen Georgi Simul (54), who was born in St. Petersburg and is still residing there, had no close ties with Estonia only a few years ago. However, as it happened, he is now considering himself an Estonian citizen by birth and has gone to court to make the state recognize it as well.Local News
Members of the passport mafia stand trialMembers of the so-called passport mafia stood trial again in Tallinn yesterday ten of whom opted for agreement process, while another case was closed due to lack of interest to prosecute. The case of the woman who ran the criminal organization will be heard in general procedure.Local News
Ratas' plan would help half of stateless personsPrime Minister Jüri Ratas, who came under a barrage of questions from the opposition during yesterday's Riigikogu Question Time, was forced to assure members of parliament on several occasions that the Center Party's idea to give people who have lived in Estonia for more than 25 years citizenship does not mean an indiscriminate campaign to throw passports at everyone.Local News
Citizens said no to blanket citizenshipMember of the Free Party faction of the Riigikogu, one of the authors of the Estonian Constitution Jüri Adams says that any attempt to change the foundations of Estonia's citizenship policy is an attempt to change the results of the 1992 referendum that would rip open old wounds.Local News
Quota filled for the first timeEstonia has been willing to take in no more immigrants than 0.1 percent of its permanent population in recent years. The figure comes to 1,317 people this year, and the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) is convinced the quota will be filled before the year is out.Local News
Oh to be embraced by Estonia ...Six years ago a single mother from Moscow left Russia for good, in hopes to live happily in Estonia with her son. The young man is hardworking and talented, and a local through and through. And yet, despite all of their efforts, neither is officially Estonian yet.Local News
Former Guantánamo inmate integrating into EstoniaAfter ten years innocently jailed on the Cuban isle of Guantánamo, then released and sent to Estonia this January, the Yemeni Ahmed Abdul Qader is still in Estonia and trying actively to get settled says social ministry.Local News
«Passport mafia» led by babushkaInvestigators have reasons to believe that the criminal scheme published yesterday may have been a lot broader and lasted a lot longer than herewith officially shown.Local News
Govt releases traitor Dressen from Estonian citizenshipThe government here on Thursday released Aleksei Dressen, the counter-intelligence officer sentenced to jail in Estonia for spying for Russia and then exchanged for the Estonian security officer Eston Kohver serving a jail sentence in Russia, of his Estonian citizenship.Local News
Decade sees 68,500 return to Estonia from jobs abroadWhile those headed to work abroad outnumber such as return, the numbers of the latter are considerable, writes Statistical Office chief analyst Siim Krusell in the office's blog.Economy
An option: depriving Dressen the Traitor of citizenshipPardoned by President and swapped into Russia in exchange for Eston Kohver, Aleksei Dressen continues to be citizen of Estonia. The latter, however, can strip him of that.Local News
Refugee reception in precautious preliminary preparationWhile local leaders listen rather placidly to soothing talks by ministers responsible to receive the migrants, Vao asylum seekers center chief harbors painful memories from recent meeting in South Estonia.Local News
From Abkhazia to Alatskivi: arrive, then survive ...A couple weeks ago, a father with two sons from the mountains of Abkhazia settled in Alatskivi Parish, Tartu County flatlands. According to passports recently received, the men are Estonian citizens. The conversation underneath displays a dilemma of Estonianhood defined.Local News
Survey: Over half of stateless residents want to become citizens of EstoniaMore than half of the people with undetermined citizenship living in Estonia would like to get Estonian citizenship but have difficulty mastering the official language to the necessary level, it appears from the findings of the survey titled «Monitoring of Integration in Estonian Society in 2015» published on Thursday.Local News
Editorial: the glass looks half full, ratherFor the most part, «integration» assumes a critical tone when pronounced in public space of Estonia. In studies, and real life especially, we see the desired processes actually in motion. Yep, not fast enough, perhaps. Sure, there’s steps to be taken, and some perhaps to avoid.Opinion
Official advises: get divorced or bride deprived of documentsThe marriage of two foreign students in Tallinn took a tragi-comic twist as vital statistics office staff, having proclaimed them husband and wife, a week later proceeded to advice that they file for divorce.Local News
Glamorous crook acted as citizen of EstoniaA jurist posing as Estonian citizen while organising a grand extortion scheme with help by Moscow law enforcement in high likelihood used a fake Estonian passport.Local News
Parlt approves amendments to simplify acquisition of citizenshipThe Estonian parliament on Wednesday passed with votes 61-12 a government-initiated bill of amendments to the Citizenship Act and State Fees Act that will ease acquisition of Estonian citizenship for persons aged 65 years and over, allow minors to hold the citizenship of other countries besides Estonia, and enable stateless parents' children aged below 15 years obtain Estonian citizenship at birth.Local News
A man legally nonexistent for yearsBorn in Estonia, a man is in his eighth year of life without any documents, residence permit or outlook to get legalised.Local News
Estonia to query Finland over «Soviet» driversForeign ministry intends to ask Finnish colleagues to explain why Finnish diving licences feature Russia or the Soviet Union as birthplace of Estonians.Local News
Govt rules to grant citizenship to 252 peopleThe Estonian government decided on Thursday to grant citizenship to 251 people and restore the citizenship of one person.Local News
Russian turned Estonian patriot denied citizenshipCitizenship Act in force over 20 years stops loyal people becoming citizens of Estonia if for mere month they’ve served in any foreign army.Local News
Study: Better availability of information will help foreigners to adapt quickerIn order to facilitate the adaptation of foreigners staying in Estonia it is necessary to ensure better availability of information and existence of an effective adaptation program, finds the study on foreigner adaption to Estonian society.Local News
Editorial: doing army twice?Pursuant to new law, Russian citizenship will equal conscript service in Russian defence forces.Opinion
Editorial: citizenship is paperwork, roots a matter of heartThe coalitions’ current multiple citizenship debate is dividing Reform Party and IRL – foreign minister Urmas Paet thinking it prudent to legally allow dual nationality, interior minister Ken-Marti Vaher being against. Comparing the arguments presented by ministers to support their party lines, foreign minister seems to have the weightier word. Mainly due to indirect contradiction between constitution and Citizenship Act, plus the emotional stress caused to emigrants.Opinion
State error turns man into noncitizenA man in Narva with Estonian citizenship of 12 years, having given up Russian nationality to obtain it, was – in the blink of an eye – turned into a grey passport holder with temporary residence permit.Local News
Seminar on citizenship to be held in Tallinn, Estonian NGOs not invitedA seminar on citizenship organized by the European Association for the Defense of Human Rights (AEDH) will take place at the EU House in Tallinn on Friday featuring MEP Tatjana Zdanoka from Latvia as one of the speakers.Local News
Estonian govt grants citizenship to 12 Russians, UkrainiansThe Estonian government on Thursday endorsed the naturalization of 12 people who were formerly citizens of Russia and Ukraine, as well as restored the citizenship of one person.Local News
Estonia gets 147 new citizensThe Estonian government on Thursday endorsed the interior minister's proposal to grant citizenship to 147 individuals.Local News
Naturalization shows considerable growth this yearIn the first three months of this year 430 individuals were naturalized in Estonia, more than twice the number for the same period of the previous year, it appears from the data of the Police and Border Guard Board.Local News
Estonian government approves citizenship for over 160 applicantsThe Estonian government on Thursday endorsed the interior minister's proposal to grant citizenship to more than 160 individuals.Local News
Estonian govt grants citizenship to 139The Estonian government on Thursday endorsed the Interior Ministry's proposal to grant citizenship to 139 individuals.Local News
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