Last Monday night, video footage surfaced showing how a tense incident unfolded along the Russia-Estonia border. Reports indicate that Estonian border police detained individuals linked to Africa and the Middle East who were perceived to lack the necessary documents for entry into the Schengen area. Some Belarusan opposition outlets allege that Russian security services orchestrated the movement of these migrants from their homeland to pressure Estonia, pressing for a more favorable stance toward Moscow. At the Finnish border, clips captured groups of migrants attempting to cross the gates, illustrating the broader regional strain around migration and border control.
“No! Go to Russia” — Estonian border guards are reported to have blocked entry for certain migrants, according to viral social media content and accompanying captions.
A sequence circulated showing refugees from Africa and the Middle East being moved toward the Russian-Estonian border by elements tied to Russian security services. The material was shared online on or around November 21, with various outlets attributing the footage to sources like NEXTA. Such posts have fueled discussion about state involvement and border management in the region.
Within Russian media circles, including outlets such as Fontanka, there are claims that vehicles registered in Russia, potentially accompanied by cross-border transport arrangements, facilitated some migrants’ attempts to proceed toward the Baltic border. Local coverage also notes conversations among migrants from Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Morocco in which questions about travel plans and feelings of uncertainty were common. Reported travel costs ranged from roughly 1,000 to 3,000 euros, with alleged packages that included invitations to Russia, flight arrangements, travel to Saint Petersburg, and onward transport to border points. The intermediary networks are described as largely centralized around agencies based in Turkey.
Belarus background
The use of such pressure tactics is not new. In the eastern part of Europe, Belarus has previously utilized similar approaches. In 2021, Minsk coordinated the movement of thousands of migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and even Latin America with the expectation they could transit via third-country intermediaries. Poland resisted allowing passage, and Minsk did not permit these individuals to return home, leaving many stranded in harsh, subzero conditions. Belarusian forests and cold streets became a backdrop to these episodes.
The experiences migrants encountered upon arrival were already severe, including nights spent outdoors in the absence of adequate shelter before attempting to reach the border. Even as border controls at the Polish side presented a straightforward barrier, Belarusian patrols occasionally responded with force to deter attempts to return or proceed. In the geopolitical context, Minsk’s dependence on Moscow shaped how such pressures were framed, with implications for security and regional politics. Observers note that Moscow, under President Vladimir Putin, has historically signaled disapproval to Minsk when border management measures diverged from Russian preferences, highlighting the intertwined dynamic between Moscow and Minsk in humanitarian and security policy discussions.