Changes in legislation will prevent about 1300 Russian and Belarusian citizens living in Estonia to hold firearms, writes ERR News.
Shortly before the four-year term, the Estonian Parliament approved amendments to the Weapons Act. They stipulate that persons residing in Estonia, but neither the EU nor the NATO member states citizens, will be canceled permits of carrying weapons, and no new ones will be issued.
Estonian Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets pointed out that the changes had been made for national security considerations. Those who will be affected by the changes must sell or otherwise divest themselves from the firearms by mid-March. The minister said: «In the current security situation, this measure is needed, proactively to mitigate any risks to our internal security and to public order.
Unfortunately, in the current situation, citizens of foreign countries hostile to Estonia cannot continue to bear the right to hold a weapons permit, or a weapon, here in Estonia.»
Deputy Secretary General of the Interior Ministry, Veiko Kommusar, said the situation in Europe is demanding active action, and therefore several amendments are made to the law on firearms. He said that arms-carrying permits would only be issued to EU and NATO citizens.
While the ban on holding a weapon mainly applies to citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus, it will also affect the owners of a non-citizen passports. Most non-citizens are Russian speaking.
About 1300 Russian and Belarusian citizens, as well as the owners of non-citizen passports, have permits for firearms. In total, they own about 3,000 weapons. The changes come into effect on the 15th of March.
Kommusaar urged the owners of the weapons affected by changes in the law to act now. He also added that the law would certainly not be changed again, even after the Riigikogu elections.
Also, amendments include stipulating that the application for the permit will only take place electronically. However, the applicants will still have to come in person to participate in interviews.
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