Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna took nearly a month to respond to a question from Member of Parliament Raimond Kaljulaid. The question concerned trips by Belarusian tourists to Tallinn. The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in no rush to solve the problem.
On June 9, Kaljulaid asked the ministers why Belarusian tourism companies are able to organize trips to Estonia. He saw Belarusian buses with tourists in Tallinn. The tourists visited, for example, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.
Kaljulaid researched online and found that many companies offer trips from Minsk to Tallinn. For example, they visit Kadriorg Park and Maarjamäe Palace. The names of these places are on the website in Russian.
Tsahkna responded to Kaljulaid a month later. He said he agrees with the problem. However, he did not offer an immediate solution. Starting from July 1, 2024, Belarusian cars are prohibited from entering Estonia. However, this ban does not apply to large buses.
Therefore, Belarusian tourists can come to Estonia if there are more than 10 passengers on the bus. Tsahkna said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is discussing the matter with the Ministry of the Interior. They are trying to find a solution to stop the tourist trips.
Interior Minister Igor Taro and his chancellor are currently on vacation. Joosep Kaasik is working in their place. Kaasik did not comment on the topic.
The Ministry of the Interior said they are discussing the matter with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the exact time is unknown. Therefore, no solution is in sight.