The Russian edition of Izvestia reported the expulsion from Estonia of two of its employees – correspondent Ksenia Soldatova and cameraman Dmitry Timofeev. Their visas were canceled and they were banned from entering the EU for a period of three years, according to the newspaper’s website on Saturday, August 13.

“The visa was declared invalid, the decision was taken based on the following reasons: the conditions and purpose of the intended stay were not recognized”, the publication cites the official document on visa deprivation issued by the Estonian authorities.

As indicated below, Soldatova and Timofeev were in Estonia as tourists. They were detained on 12 August on a train from Narva to Tallinn. Migration officials confiscated their phones and took them to the police station in Jõhvi. On August 13, newspaper employees were taken to the Narva checkpoint, through which they left Estonia, it is further reported. As noted on the Izvestia Telegram channel, Soldatova and Timofeev would prepare materials on visa restrictions for Russians and deprive the T-34 tank of monument status.

Estonia: Russians involved in propaganda

Meanwhile, the Estonian publication Delfi, citing the Eastern Prefecture’s border control, reported that the Russians were involved in propaganda activities. “At the border, they presented Schengen visas issued by Italy and Finland and declared that they were on a tourist trip. So the man and woman went to the tank in Narva and started working there for propaganda purposes. Then in Narva, boarded a train and headed towards Tallinn, but in Jõhvi a police patrol went to the train, took the Russians off the train and took the man and woman to the police station for a check,” said the head of border control. Urmas Elmi.

Meanwhile, EU immigration law prohibits the employment of tourist visa holders.

On August 11, Estonia announced that it was closing entry into its territory to Russian citizens with Estonian Schengen visas from August 18. An exception is made for close relatives of Estonian citizens and holders of a residence permit in Estonia, Russian diplomats and their family members, employees of transport companies, as well as those who enter the country for humanitarian reasons. The ban does not affect people entitled to free movement under EU law, Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu said.