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EESTI ELU reedel, 27. märtsil 2020 — Friday, March 27, 2020
Nr. 12
Ratas: It is better to overreact than to be careless ERR, March 2020
English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Controlling the diaspora, Kremlin style Russia has a lengthy history of compatriots abroad reach ing back to the 19th century and stretching into the Putin era. Russians have endured centuries of repression, from the Russian Empire to the Soviet Union, forcing millions to leave. Escape from that tyranny has produced the world’s third largest diaspora, estimated at some 25,000,000 currently. This is soon to mushroom with Russia’s easing of its dual citi zenship policy – some estimate at least a 5,000,000 additional Russians in the West, without even having to speak the lan guage. It’s a resource that the Kremlin knows it can manipu late and/or harass to advance its interests. A change to the Rus sian constitution would give Russia “the right to use any force to protect the lives and property of its citizens abroad in cases where the host country cannot or does not want to pro vide them with the protection to which they are entitled”. But there are other aspects to the diaspora-Moscow relations. Observers say that this change in dual citizenship legislation is supported by the Russian diasporas abroad. In addition surveys have shown that Putin’s popularity with ex patriate Russians exceeds that of Russians at home. Analysts say there are plau sible reasons for this. Many Russians feel guilty for leaving their land of birth. Those who are opposed to the govern ment’s shift toward autocracy and leave certainly are not sad dled with any sense of remorse. But leaving the homeland, espe cially for adversary countries such as Britain or the U.S., with other motives, has been a theme within Russian propaganda. These non-dissident emigrants are made to feel as if they have betrayed the country. Thus those seeking a better future for their children, or feel trapped in economic stagnation, or not being able to fulfill their ambitions, have not expected to be called traitors. But propa ganda has instilled in their subconscious that they have been disloyal to their country. They are made to feel that they have abandoned their homeland, not for moral reasons, but for personal benefit.
Forums, organizations, con gresses are established so that Russians abroad can make some formal contact with their heri tage country. Most of these associations express support for the Kremlin’s foreign policy. All three main organizations in Canada have openly backed Russia’s incursion into Ukraine and have complained when the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Central and Eastern European Coalition have pro tested against the local Russian organizations’ activities which idolize the Soviet past. One of the groups is backed by several Soviet veterans’ associations. It’s said that by backing current Russian foreign policy, expat Russians feel absolved of any act of betrayal. Most of the organizations of Russian expats centre around cultural identification and lan guage retention, with celebrat ing historical events, assisting newcomers to cope with settling in etc. Many immigrants are helped to establish themselves by the Russian foreign ministry. Russia gets the benefits of ex-pat lobbying efforts. Even though most of their activities involve ethno-cultural themes, members do accept this political reality. One notes that the two na tional organizations in the U.S. and Canada that denote them selves to be the main voices of the local Russian-speaking communities, are both involved in promoting Russian foreign policy issues and also have similar names – the Congress of Russian Americans and the Russian Congress of Canada. The former has been involved in spreading conspiracy theories related to the “deep state” notion and also publicly sup porting Donald Trump. Emigrants in a desperate situation usually see the country to which they ‘escape’ as a place of solace and relief. This for Moscow is unacceptable. The Kremlin values the scholarly research which has shown that before immigrants consider themselves comfortable in adapting to a new country, they often feel resentment toward and rejection by their hosts. Although this reaction is tem porary, Moscow knows how to exploit its occurrence, to isolate them psychologically from and to hinder any possibility of
We have to be ready for the situation regarding the coro navirus to get worse in Estonia before it will get bet ter, Prime Minister Jüri Ratas said in a video address broad cast by ERR, which follows. As of right now (March 23), we have gathered samples from more than three and a half thou sand people and have identified more than three hundred in fected. In reality, there are more people carrying the virus than there are people who have been officially diagnosed. Many people have yet to become symptomatic and others with mild symptoms might not sus pect the coronavirus. At the same time, they might inadver tently carry the virus on to peo ple they are in contact with. The harsh experiences of other countries also prove that a calmer period can quickly be followed by a sharp increase in infected people. We have to be ready for the spread of corona virus to get worse in Estonia before it will get better. Only on Saturday we received sad news that the COVID-19 virus has claimed a life in both Lithuania and Finland. This is why we must con
Foreign ministry: Stranded Estonians should head towards Europe, avoid USA ERR (as of March 24, 2020) As many countries around the world have closed their air space, foreign minister Urmas Reinsalu (Isamaa) noted that people who are trying to get home from non-EU countries should head towards Europe as there it’s easier to find flights home. According to Reinsalu, around 2,400 people needing help getting back to Estonia have consulted the ministry since the start of the crisis. “There are now less people stranded but the cases have be
sider our behaviour at all times and act with caution every day, at all times. Most importantly, we have to protect the elderly and chronically ill. For them, the virus is most dangerous. Let us help our loved ones in at-risk groups, so they can safely stay at home until the situation improves. At the same time we have to eliminate the possibility of us transmitting the infection in their homes, in nursing homes, in hospitals. We have significantly exten ded the capabilities of carrying out coronavirus tests across Estonia. It is still necessary to focus on people who are most at risk; however, it is possible to test people of any age if their family doctor deems testing necessary. Let us preserve the health of ourselves and of others. People must stay at home and contact their family doctors in case of medical problems or symptoms of respiratory illness. In cases of serious illness, emergency services must be called imme diately. Now is not the time for any social life, as it is necessary to interact with as few people as possible for the sake of our health. A safe distance should be kept with others in public transport and on streets, moving
about in natural surrounds or in stores. It is also important to observe the rules of hygiene and to listen to healthcare pro fessionals. Staying inside for days and weeks at a time can understand ably be burdensome, but it is absolutely necessary in order to protect the health and life of ourselves and our loved ones. The emergency situation with its restrictions on travel ling and moving has dealt a ma jor blow to the economies of both Estonia and Europe and will affect many people and companies. We do not have much proven knowledge in this current situa tion and that is why, for both individual people and for the state, it is better to be safe than sorry. It is better to overreact than to be careless. It is better to restrict our behaviour exces sively than not enough. By do ing this, we can overcome the disease together. The government and the Estonian authorities are giving their all to provide the neces sary information, instructions and a sense of security to all. Medical staff, caregivers, social workers, police officers, border guards and others are working hard to ensure our health and safety.
come more complex, because people are stranded in different countries around the world,” Reinsalu said. The most dif ficult cases are in Thailand, Indonesia and Nepal. Around 7,100 people have called the foreign ministry’s emergency number since March 14. In addition, the ministry has been contacted by e-mail and on Facebook. Around 8,000 people or more have been con sulted in ten days, foreign ministry’s communications ad viser Pia Kuusik told ERR’s online news in Estonian on Tuesday. “2,400 people needed more specific assistance. For around 1,600 people, a solution has been found,” Kuusik said. The authorities are aware of 240 Estonians who are stranded
in 44 different countries. According to Reinsalu, Estonia is cooperating with other EU states to bring them back, re calling that the state will not reimburse their travel expenses.
More people borrowing from National Library during emergency situation ERR, March 2020
Under normal circumstances, readers borrow a daily average More books than usual were of 143 books from the National borrowed from the National Library. Last Monday, when the Library (Rahvusraamatuko library reopened its doors for gu) during the first week of the first time after the emergen the emergency situation re cy situation was declared, nearly gardless of the reading rooms two and a half times as many being closed. (339) books were borrowed in a day. The closure of reading rooms Russians adopting the ideology of their host country. The use of has not decreased people’s desire for information. The expat organizations is to create a nostalgic, patriotic milieu and National Library has seen a keep the new Russian immi sudden increase of registrations grants emotionally attached to with 714 new readers through the first three weeks of March, the country they left. (to be continued) slightly more than through the LAAS LEIVAT whole month of March last
The minister noted that peo ple should head towards Europe as there it’s easier to find flights home. People stranded in Southern and Central America should, however, avoid trying to fly back to Estonia through USA. “Cooperation with the Uni ted States has been rendered more difficult due to severe restrictions on border crossings. That is why we recommend Estonian citizens to find a flight route that will take them through other destinations,” Kuusik added.
year. Around 400 people regis tered as readers online during the first week of the emergency situation. Books can still be borrowed from the National Library either via e-catalogue ESTER or by contacting the library directly. Ordered books can be received from the foyer of the library (the orders are divided based on the user’s last name and the alphabet) or from the Book Dispenser (outside of the library, next to the main en trance). All books borrowed already will have a new return date on May 5.
ESTONIAN LIFE
