Estonian MPs pass bill to limit voting rights for Russian minority

Estonia bans non-EU citizens from local election voting, mostly Russians and Belarusians affected

Estonia's parliament on March 26 voted to amend the constitution to deprive non-EU citizens — mainly targeting Russins and Belarusians — voting rights in local elections, Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) reported.

Russians and Belarusians will no longer be allowed to take part in local elections. Some welcome the decision – others fear that minorities could continue to encapsulate themselves.

The Estonian parliament has abolished the municipal right to vote for Russian and other non-European citizens through a constitutional amendment. In Estonia, around 80,000 Russian nationals live. Commentators of the state press shed light on the background and consequences.

In Estonia, Parliament voted in favour of a bill excluding the Russian minority and other non-European citizens from the right to vote in local elections.

Estonian lawmakers on Wednesday voted in favor of a law banning residents of non-European Union countries from voting in local elections, a measure aimed at the large number of Russian citizens living in the Baltic state,...

Estonian lawmakers voted on Wednesday to ban non-EU residents from voting in local elections, a move aimed at the large number of Russian citizens living in the Baltic state, according to France 24.