Bridging the gap between Russia and Estonia

In Narva, Estonia this morning, at the sole border crossing in the northeast into Russia, 260 trucks were lined up facing an estimated wait of 55 hours.

Long waiting lines of trucks began to emerge on the eastern borders of Finland, Estonia and Latvia in summer 2006. In August and November the same year, more than 500 vehicles were lined up in Narva, facing a wait of over a week, inciting protests from truckers.

These long lines developed after Russian President Vladimir Putin demanded more efficient work from the customs and Russian officers began more thorough searches of incoming vehicles.

Estonian and Finnish press have also pointed out that the long lines and waiting times have become a source of easy money for dishonest customs officials.

Latvian customs officers too have taken advantage of the situation. The Latvian police detained a large group of customs officials last year on suspicion of corruption.

 To give relief to this problem, a decision has been made to construct a new bridge across the Narva river at the border crossing as early as 2009.

During talks between Leningrad Regional Governor Valeri Serdyukov and Estonian consul general, Kristen Lahtein, the notion was encouraged, laying a foundation for cooperation between the regions.