Estonia quits agreement on legal assistance with Russia

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - The Estonian parliament has approved a bill to terminate the agreement with Russia on legal assistance and legal relations in civil, family, and criminal matters, citing a lack of trust in its judicial system, local media reported on Thursday.

The Treaty on Legal Assistance between Estonia and Russia signed more than 30 years ago, is automatically renewed every five years and allows for mutual recognition of judicial decisions and cooperation in criminal cases.

This decision is primarily “a symbolic act,” indicating that “as long as Russia is at war in Ukraine, the Republic of Estonia cannot have any trust relations with the aggressor state," Janus Karilaid, a non-faction member of the parliamentary legal committee was quoted as saying by the Estonian media ERR.

Eduard Odinets, chairman of the Legal Committee, pointed out that relations with the Russian Federation can continue to be conducted under all other international agreements, rather than a bilateral agreement.

“In other words, Russia will now be for Estonia like any other African or Asian country, and conducting affairs will be much more expensive and complicated," said Odinets, according to ERR.

The agreement will remain in force until the spring of next year, as to terminate the agreement, a party must notify the other party at least six months in advance at the end of the five years.

This period will end on March 18, 2025, and the agreement will not be extended after that date, according to UNN media outlets.

In February, Latvia also terminated a similar agreement with Russia.