Estonia to Terminate Agreement with Russia on Preservation of Cultural Property

Estonia will terminate the agreement on cooperation with the Russian Federation on the preservation of Cultural Property, concluded in 1998.

As Estonian TV and radio broadcaster ERR reports, the agreement will be terminated by the order of the Estonian government, according to the agenda of the Cabinet meeting on 29 June.

The agreement on cooperation between the two countries' governments on preserving cultural property was signed on 4 December 1998. Estonia wants to terminate the agreement concerning Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

In addition, the agenda of the government meeting stipulated that Estonia has joined the two UNESCO conventions that underlie the Estonian-Russian agreement, so there is no real need to regulate the same areas with an additional treaty.

It concerns the UNESCO conventions On measures aimed at prohibiting and preventing the illegal import, export and transfer of ownership of cultural property and On protecting the world cultural and natural heritage.

The treaty between the two countries was automatically renewed every five years unless the parties announced their desire to terminate it. 

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently announced assistance to Ukraine in 2023 for almost €1 million.

Earlier, the Estonian government approved the principles of using Russia's frozen assets to support Ukraine.