Collapse on the border of Russia with Estonia: Tallinn staged a New Year's escalation — Zakharova

Due to the artificial escalation created by Tallinn, numerous queues formed at the border points with Russia on the eve of the New Year holidays, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a comment.

The diplomat recalled that there are three checkpoints with the Republic of Estonia on the territory of the Pskov Region: Kunichina Gora, Shumilkino, and Krupp. Traditionally, on the eve of the New Year holidays, there is an increase in traffic crossing the border. Mostly in the queues are compatriots, Russian-speaking citizens who travel to Russia to relatives to celebrate the New Year.

"The situation was aggravated by the fact that the alternative checkpoint "Narva-1" on the border of Russia and Since May 1, Estonia, at the initiative of the Estonian side, has switched from a round—the-clock operation mode to a reduced schedule (from 7.00 to 23.00)," Zakharova said.

She added that people who had previously systematically used this crossing, as well as the mayor of Narva, appealed to the Estonian Parliament to ensure the resumption of the checkpoint around the clock, but the issue has not been resolved.

Estonian authorities recommend citizens to go to other checkpoints — Koidula/Kunichina Gora and Luhamaa/Shumilkino, which work around the clock.

"As a result of the redirection of citizens on the eve of the holiday period and, above all, due to the artificial escalation of the situation by Estonian border guards, long queues began to form at these checkpoints," the representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

As Zakharova stressed, "on the part of Estonia, for citizens who are oriented to travel during this period in Russia, through social networks and the media there is an active dissemination of absolutely unreliable information, fake messages are broadcast that Russia is closing the border."

"The information that Russian border guards are subjected to enhanced inspection and verification of documents of Russians with EU passports is also absolutely untrue," she stated.