[JURIST] The Russian Foreign Ministry [official website, in English] said Wednesday that Russia would be unable to submit an amended border treaty [JURIST report] with Estonia to the Russian parliament because amendments inserted by Estonia were an "unambiguously negative assessment in Russian society" [press release]. The changes made include indirect references to the Soviet-era occupation of the Baltic states, although Russia maintains that Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia all voluntarily joined the Soviet Union. The announcement comes after almost a decade of difficulties trying to establish a border treaty between the two nations. Russia also refused to sign a similar treaty with Latvia [MosNews report] last month after similar amendments were made by Latvia to that treaty. AP has more; MosNews has local coverage.
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