Estonia's external borders consist of the land borders with Russia and Latvia as well as the several thousand-kilometer-long coastline to the Baltic Sea. However, the Estonian border guard is concentrated on the 338-kilometre-long Russian Estonian border. In Estonia, the tasks of the border guard and the police are carried out by one authority. The official name is Politsei- ja Piirivalveamet, i.e. Police and Border Guard Board. A visit to the border guard staff in Saatse in south-east Estonia.
‘Our job is to monitor around 60 kilometers of land border here in the south and 20 kilometers of border that runs through Lake Peipus, says a senior member of staff at the border guard station, who does not wish to be named. "We need to know what is happening in our border area. To do this, we monitor a strip up to five kilometers inland." Large parts of the Russian Estonian border run through marshland and along rivers through areas that are difficult to access. The aim of the current border expansion is to better monitor the border and make it more accessible. At the moment, kilometer-long metal fences, around three meters high and reinforced with NATO barbed wire, are being erected. They run about ten meters from the actual Russian border. The tall trees in the area behind the fence have been felled.
New patrol roads for the border vehicles are being built in front of the fence. These are mostly graveled roads. At one point, an elaborate concrete construction was erected to prevent the fence and path from sinking into the moor. ‘We were already present here before, but now it's easier for us to reach the border area,’ says the border guard. Before the border was expanded, it often happened that berry or mushroom pickers accidentally strayed onto Russian territory. ‘That's no longer possible now.’
“The plan is to complete 105 kilometers of the fence by the end of the year”, explains the employee. “And we have plans to fence up some more places in the following years. The total length of the land border is 135 kilometers. The fence will cover all but the most swampy areas where illegal border crossings on foot are extremely difficult and unlikely.” This border expansion should be completed by 2027. By that time the entire border should be 100% covered with surveillance equipment. ‘The fence is intended to protect against irregular migration and give us time to react in the event of irregularities,’ says the border guard.
You can only get to the border fence if accompanied by a border guard. Signs before the actual border indicate that this border strip may not be entered. ‘A fine will be imposed if anyone is found here.’ The border guard drives to a wooden bridge over a river right next to the border. "This bridge is no longer allowed to be used. Locals still use it occasionally because it's a shortcut. Sometimes strangers are guided across the bridge by their navigation system. Fines are often imposed."
The border fence is interrupted at two points and the country road officially leads through Russian territory: once just 30 meters and once a kilometer. Even before that, there are signs indicating that you are not allowed to stop, leave the car or walk under any circumstances. ‘We are also stepping up our patrols here to prevent provocation.’ The border guard therefore also does not allow any photos to be taken in the direction of the Russian border post and Russian territory. However, it is striking that the original red and green colors of the Russian concrete border posts are barely recognisable. The Estonian border posts are made of plastic and are striped in black and white.
The Estonian government is planning to relocate the road in this section so that the Estonian highway no longer crosses Russian territory and the gaps in the fence can be closed. "The short section could be completed as early as 2027. The longer section is still a little delayed due to environmental protection tests." The border guard explains that he is using the 30-metre-long road on Russian territory, but not the one-kilometer-long section through the Saatsestiefel. Together with me, he chooses the route around the entire boot along the fence on the patrol route.
He refers to a spectacular case from 2014: an Estonian official from the Office for the Defence of the Constitution was lured into a trap by the Russian secret service while working at the border. He was abducted into the forest in the direction of Russia and sentenced to 15 years in prison for espionage. He was released a month later thanks to an exchange of agents.
The work of the border guards is held in high regard by the local population. "We are also in good dialogue with the population. They report irregularities and anomalies in the border area to us. On the other hand, we also occasionally take on police duties. We are on site more quickly because the nearest police station is a long way away."
One of his daily tasks is to monitor Russian news and assess whether it could influence the work at the border. ‘I'm not very worried at the moment. It's quiet here. But nobody knows what will be here in two- or three-years’ time.’
