Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't see anything particularly bad about this policy. Considering the fact that the Baltic countries were under Russian occupation for a while, I don't have much of a problem with them making those Russians who decide to stay learn the language. This is coming from an ethnic Russian whose family used to live in Latvia, and who now resides in Canada - learning English was also required here since I wanted to obtain Canadian citizenship.
Is it required for people that were born in Canada? And is it English or French? Or both?
- It did not try to throw them out like many countries have done in the past.
- It did not simply keep them around as jus sanguinis countries do. I've known a person whose PARENTS were born in Switzerland and she doesn't have a citizenship.
So kindly let's all ease off on indignation before learning at least a tiny bit about a) Estonian history and b) how citizenship laws very in all our oh-so-advanced mature Western democracies.
Yes, ex-colonists are usually not personally guilty of the transgressions of their original state.
>our failure to make a distinction between a state, its ethnic composition and the individuals residing there just kinda embarassingly highlights the ethno-nationalist ideology underlying these laws.
Sorry, the "ethno-nationalist ideology" canard doesn't pass muster. There's absolutely no ethnic component to this. Descendants of ethnic Russians who lived in Estonia prior to 1940 (or which there were a reasonable number) were given Estonian citizenship in 1991 like any other Estonians who descend from those living in Estonia prior to 1940. The law is based on residency during occupation, not ethnic origin.
There is a procedure to obtain full citizenship, which includes a basic test of Estonian language. If you lived all your life in Estonia, the test should be pretty easy. Personally, I would wave it in many cases.
Many EU countries have much more difficult procedures to gain citizenship.
It is better to be stateless citizen than Estonian or Russian.
It gives privileges in both countries.
Double citizenship are not allowed in Estonia.
Many grey passport holders are also offered Russian citizenship (with which they could still legally live in Estonia), but they refuse it.
This citizenship topic is not as black and white as one usually reads.
You do recognize that the Russians invaded their land, killed their people, and occupied their houses, right? If that is granted, surely you recognize the reluctance to endow those same people citizenship.
Sad story really, however Estonia has nothing to do with this, Baltics are doing all they can to help them - they just refuse the help.
[1] Source: My wife's estonian grandparents
Older generations are a bit more problematic in this regard. I would say there's a general hate towards older Russians that still can't speak Estonian, even from younger generations.
However, I would say Russians are generally disadvantaged in Estonia and that's a big source of issues. In my childhood, younger Russians tended to be poorer and therefore were more involved in various criminal activities. Most of my friends and I were afraid of Russians in our area, as they liked to pick fights and generally mess with you.