Zakharova warned what threatens Estonia with "pirate habits" against Russian ships

Russia will respond in proportion to the risks and threats posed by Estonia as a NATO member in the event of illegal actions against Russian ships in the Baltic. Moscow strongly condemns such "piratical habits." This was stated at a briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

The diplomat recalled that on April 14, amendments entered into Estonian legislation granting the Estonian Navy the right to use force against foreign vessels, according to which they will be able to "intercept, redirect or otherwise force civilian vessels to change course, and, if necessary, even sink them.

"If actions are directed against Russian vessels, our country will respond in proportion to the risks and threats posed by Estonia as a NATO member state," Zakharova said.

She stressed that Russia strongly condemns such "piratical habits", since the powers granted to the Estonian Navy go beyond international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

"There is a malicious decision of Tallinn that violates the spirit and letter of international law. We expect that all countries that follow international law in practice, and not just in words, will give an objective assessment of Tallinn's decision, which creates significant risks for shipping in the Baltic and security in the region," Zakharova said, quoted by TASS.