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Several institutions have criticized Estonia of discrimination of the country's ethnic minorities.
Amnesty's report
According to a report by Amnesty International, members of the Russian-speaking minority in Estonia enjoy very limited linguistic and minority rights, and often find themselves de facto excluded from the labour market and educational system. The discriminating policies of Estonia have led to "disproportionately high levels of unemployment among the Russian-speaking linguistic minority. This in turn has further contributed to social exclusion and vulnerability to other human rights abuses. In consequence, many from this group are effectively impeded from the full enjoyment of their economic, social and cultural rights (ESC rights)."
Russian point of view
A poll conducted in April 2007, has found that 59% of Russia's residents agree with the statement "Estonian authorities discriminate against Russophones in Estonia and deliberately provoke conflicts with Russia".
Other institutions
The think-tank Development and Transition, sponsored by the United Nations, published an article in 2005 alleging Latvia and Estonia employ a "sophisticated and extensive policy regime of discrimination" against their respective Russophone populations
Scholars
Finnish legal sociologist and criminologist Johan Bäckman has said that there is "criminal discrimination" of Russians in Estonia, and has likened the situation to the former Apartheid regime of South Africa.. He has also claimed that Estonia was not occupied by the Soviet Union – instead, Estonia and the Soviet Union made a mutual agreement about military bases in 1935-1940. "After that, Estonia joined the Soviet Union. And after that the Estonian republic ceased to exist. And if something ceased to exist, it of course cannot be occupied by any forces," Bäckman said in May, 2009. "The myth of occupation is a form of hate speech against the Russian population in Estonia. The only purpose of this myth is to accuse Russians of being criminals and murderers. This is racist propaganda against the Russian minority."
Journalists
According to veteran German author, journalist and Russia-correspondent Gabriele Krone-Schmalz, there is deep disapproval of everything Russian in Estonia. She contends that the alleged level of discrimination regarding ethnic Russians in Estonia would have posed a barrier to acceptance into the EU; however, Western media gave the matter very little attention.
References
- ^ "Document - Estonia: Linguistic minorities in Estonia: Discrimination must end". Amnesty International. 2006. Retrieved 2009-06-01.
- Левада-Центр April 26, 2007: Российско-эстонский конфликт...?
- http://www.developmentandtransition.net/index.cfm?module=ActiveWeb&page=WebPage&DocumentID=586
- ^ ""Estonia has an apartheid regime"". Russia Today. 2009-05-26. Retrieved 2009-05-26.
- Krone-Schmalz, Gabriele (2008). "Zweierlei Maß". Was passiert in Russland? (in German) (4 ed.). München: F.A. Herbig. pp. 45–48. ISBN 9783776625257.