Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Russia to return approximately two dozen demarcation buoys its border guards took in May 2024.
The floating buoys are used on the River Narva in the warmer months to prevent boats from accidentally crossing the international border.
In the early hours of May 23, border guards were recorded taking 25 buoys out of the river. No explanation was given at the time. Russia later said it did not agree with where the Estonians had positioned the floating devices.
On Thursday, Estonia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned a representative from Russia’s embassy in Tallinn and handed over a diplomatic note.
A statement from the ministry said Russia has “rejected” “various proposals for constructive cooperation.”
“We emphasise that Estonia’s territory is inviolable and the removal of buoys from Estonian waters is unacceptable; we are also reiterating our demand for the return of the stolen buoys,” it said.
The ministry said it plans to install buoys on the river again this year.
“The note underlines that we would like to resolve the issue of installing the buoys in a constructive manner,” the statement said.
This is the third diplomatic note Estonia has handed to Russia over the incident. The first was issued in May and a second in October.
The theft took place following Russia’s alleged plans to revise its maritime borders with Finland and Lithuania in the eastern Baltic Sea.
