Russia puts Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on 'wanted' list

Russia has listed Estonia's Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, a staunch backer of Ukraine, as a 'wanted' person.

According to the Russian Interior Ministry's database, Kallas is now wanted in connection with criminal charges, along with Estonian State Secretary Taimar Peterkop and Lithuanian Culture Minister Simonas Kairys.

The Interior Ministry did not initially specify which charges they faced.

But later, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Kallas and the other two Baltic ministers had been designated as wanted due to alleged "desecration of historical memory."

The charges specifically relate to the "destroying monuments of Soviet soldiers," according to a source cited by the Russian state-owned TASS agency.

Kallas called Russia' move "nothing surprising".

"This is yet more proof that I am doing the right thing - the EU's strong support to Ukraine is a success and it hurts Russia," she wrote on X on Tuesday.

"The Kremlin now hopes this move will help to silence me and others – but it won't," Kallas added. "The opposite. I will continue my strong support to Ukraine. I will continue to stand for increasing Europe's defense."

Putting Estonia's leader on the wanted list marks a further escalation in tensions between Russia and the West.

Kallas is considered one of Ukraine's staunchest allies in the 27-country EU bloc.

She has consistently called for scaling up military support to Ukraine and suffocating Russia with further sanctions.

Turmoil hit Kallas in August 2023 after it was revealed her husband's company was continuing to operate in Russia.

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez took to social media to tell Kallas that "the Spanish people and Europe" stood behind her.

"Putin's move is another proof of your courage and Estonia’s