The President of Estonia has approved a law on the right of the military to attack suspicious vessels

Estonian President Alar Karis has approved amendments to the law allowing the military to use force against ships that could damage cables or other underwater infrastructure. This was announced on April 14 by the ERR broadcasting company.

It is specified that changes are being made to the law on the organization of the armed forces of Estonia, as well as to the legislation on the economic zone of the republic.

"Amendments <...> give the Defense Forces the right to respond in the Estonian maritime zone to threats to infrastructure providing vital services, state defense facilities, ports and other structures or equipment," the message says.

Pirates of the Baltic Sea: Estonia is going to sink merchant ships

Such a law will be considered in the first reading by the country's parliament.

Earlier, on April 11, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev called Estonia the main initiator of statements suggesting the sinking of suspicious merchant vessels in the Baltic Sea. At the same time, according to him, not all Western countries support Tallinn's plans.

On the same day, in Muuga Bay, near the island of Aenga, the Estonian Defense Forces detained the tanker Kiwala, which was heading to Russia. At the same time, the commander of the Estonian Navy, Commodore Ivo Vark, explained that the purpose of the detention was to check the documents and the legal status of the vessel.