Russia has placed Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on a wanted list, according to an official register published Tuesday, as tensions between Russia and the West rise over Ukraine.
Kallas’ name emerged on the Interior Ministry’s wanted list for criminal offences. It did not indicate the charges Kallas was facing.
This is the first time the ministry has placed a foreign leader on a wanted list.
Kallas has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, supporting attempts to enhance military assistance to the country and impose sanctions on Russia.
She has also enraged Moscow by advocating for the demolition of memorials to Soviet World War II veterans. Russia has regulations that make “rehabilitation of Nazis” illegal, including those that punish the damage of war memorials.
The listing also lists Estonian Secretary of State Taimar Peterkop as wanted.
The steps appear to be an attempt by Moscow to up the ante as it faces pressure from NATO partners as the combat in Ukraine approaches the two-year mark, but they represent little in practice because Russia-West communications have been halted during the crisis.
At the time of filing this report, the Estonian authorities had no immediate reaction to the move.
