In usenet.alt.current-events.russia, [email protected] (Nikolai Sergeyevich Smirnov) wrote:

The Estonian authorities in Narva are playing with fire.
They have several times cut off the municipal water supply to Russian Narva, Ivangorod in Russia, because Ivangorod does not have the money to pay for water, which in Soviet period was free. They have thrown many Russian families out of their flats because they did not have the money to pay for their rent, gas, heating and electricity, which in Soviet period was free or almost free. Now Estonians want Russians to pay as much as half of their income for rent, gas, heating, electricity. And they want Russians to pay entrance and exit tax when they cross Russian border, go from one set of coordinates in ancient Russian land to another!

Estonian authorities make it impossible for Russians in Narva to live a normal life. Artificial border cuts Russians off from their friends and relatives living across the river in neighboring Russian town of Russian Narva, Ivangorod. And Estonians are now letting Russia charge entrance and exit fee to cross Russian border. This is unprecendented measure designed to further keep Russians in 'Estonia' from keeping up contacts with Russians in Motherland. If Russia charges this tax, then Estonian authorities must compensate Russians living there by providing them with extra money to pay it.

The Estonian authorities must learn that they are playing with fire.

They must learn that Russians cannot be thrown out of their homes. People cannot be thrown out of their homes into winter just because they do not pay their rent. They must learn that lilliput nation does not have right to humiliate citizens of Russian city by turning off water supply. The water comes from the River Narva which now artificially divides one city into two, now sadly in different countries. It is only accident that municipal water plant was built on Estonian side. Finally the Estonian authorities should take down all border installations, customs stations, border guards, and get rid of visa regime that makes it difficult for Russians living in 'Estonian' side of Narva to visit Russians living in Russian side of Narva, that is, Ivangorod. 99% of people in Narva are Russian. There is no reason for this town to be part of lilliput Estonia!

Estonian authorities must make sure that in Estonia living Russians receive compensation for Russian border tax. Of course the best way to do this would be for Estonia to follow the glorious example of Belarus and join Russia as soon as possible, or at least allow Narva and surrounding areas of Sillamjae and Tallinn where there is large Russian population to join Russia. This will be a good example for Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and the others.

++ C M |/| P H O B

Johnson's Russia List
17 January 1997
[email protected]
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THe mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly small