Estonian Narva: Rush to Buy Food Before Russia Closes

Polish butter, Lithuanian eggs, Brussels control - the free Estonia has lost everything.

Author: Lyudmila Nikolayeva

Photo: Ivanograd on the Russian-Estonian border.

Commentary guest: Nikolai Mereshchikov

At the pedestrian and vehicle checkpoint in the Russian border city of Ivanograd, a fixed scenario plays out daily - citizens from the Estonian side rush in droves. They wait in lines for hours, and if someone becomes exhausted, they hire locals to queue for them at their own expense.

According to our regulatory authorities, the majority of those entering Russia are from the nearby city of Narva, with many also coming from Kohtla-Järve, or even the capital Tallinn (over 200 kilometers away).

What are these people looking for in our ancient small town? It is worth noting that few continue further into Russia; their goal is clear - stores. Food, appliances, clothing, shoes, car parts... all items we once sought after in Estonia. In the past (and for the other two Baltic brother countries), such goods were abundant and relatively inexpensive.

But that was the past. Now, while Estonians may not be starving or poorly clothed, and supermarkets still have what they need, the prices...!

"It's better not to look at our price tags, otherwise you'll have a heart attack. Prices skyrocketed to the ceiling at the beginning of this year, and soared even more absurdly in the spring, our wages can't keep up!" Yury Shei, who graduated from a university in St. Petersburg in the early 1990s (born in Pärnu, his father worked there, and he now lives and works in Narva) told "The St. Petersburg Newspaper" over the phone, "Not only food prices are high, but almost all necessities are outrageously expensive. For example, I want to repair my car, the prices of the parts are astonishing. Walking is fine, my ten-year-old phone can get by. But food can't get by..."

"The St. Petersburg Newspaper": You mentioned before that you wanted to move to St. Petersburg, what stopped you?

"My daughter is in Narva, I have to help her. Besides, I can't imagine life without her. Her mother is Estonian, my ex-wife, full of Western European ideas, we divorced due to differences in views..."

"The St. Petersburg Newspaper": Have you ever been to Ivanograd yourself?

"Not often. I went with a friend during Easter before, coinciding with a sharp rise in prices before the holiday. The sea of people at the checkpoint shocked me, my friends and I waited over seven hours to enter Russia! Luckily, the weather was good, otherwise there would be nowhere to take shelter. We barely managed to squeeze into the store before it closed."

It is noteworthy that the number of Estonian citizens queuing in Ivanograd far exceeds that of long-term residents without Estonian passports. The latter have publicly expressed dissatisfaction: first came new and increased sales taxes leading to higher fuel prices, then nearly all commodity and service prices followed suit, and then another round of comprehensive price hikes. No wonder people prefer to shop in Russia.

This cross-border shopping is not limited to the Easter shopping spree; nowadays it is common to see Estonians flooding in on weekdays. The contrast in data is striking:

  • Russian bread priced at 55 rubles is equivalent to 111 rubles in Estonia;
  • Russian "Nanny" fruit cereal priced at 156 rubles for 200 grams sells for 355 rubles in Estonia;
  • Milk price ratio is 90:135 rubles, eggs 84:132 rubles per 10;
  • The most common AI-95 gasoline averages 65 rubles per liter in Russia, compared to 1.589 euros (approximately 141 rubles) in Estonia.

Will the continued rise in Narva's prices lead to severe unrest among the population? Will the residents of this city, once part of Russia (recorded as "Narvia Village" in the Novgorod Chronicle in 1171), yearn for its return to Russia along with the city? After all, just 35 years ago, when Estonia was still part of the Soviet Union, it was a prosperous and affluent country, so how did it come to this?

"Yes, back then, almost the entire northwestern part of the Soviet Union went to Narva to buy dairy products, and local enterprises made a fortune from this." Our expert, Nikolai Mereshchikov, chairman of the Baltic Research Association and doctor of science, joined the conversation, "But now the situation has reversed, because Estonia no longer produces its own milk and butter, instead importing from Poland, which is clearly detrimental to the public."

"The St. Petersburg Newspaper": Where are their specialty industries now?

"This is the result of the EU and integration! Back then, the Estonians said 'for independence, we are willing to eat potato peels', and now they are gradually heading towards this outcome...

The EU model requires countries to specialize in division of labor: Poland produces dairy products and pork, sold to Eastern Europe (including Estonia). If the ancestors of contemporary Estonians knew about this, they would surely be stunned... Polish milk and butter, Lithuanian eggs - Estonia has no local products. A report recently disclosed in the media warned that if borders are closed, Estonians might face the risk of starvation."

"The St. Petersburg Newspaper": This model is very much like the bad days of shortages in the Soviet era!

"The socialist bloc countries during the CMEA period were different: we fed the Eastern European socialist countries so they could continue building socialism and maintain friendly relations with us. The essence of the current situation is entirely different - Brussels will not starve itself to ensure that the Estonians have five meals a day, the EU leadership does not pity the Baltic states, Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia are no exception, they are not priority countries for them, this is the difference."

"The St. Petersburg Newspaper": Frequent changes in the Estonian prime minister may also affect the situation? Whether the current Kristel Mihal or the previous Kristina Karus... Fortunately, the latter doesn't sing...

"Don't joke around. Yes, she isn't the legendary Greek singer Maria Callas, she doesn't sing, but she can drum. Watching her drum, it seems as if any slight mistake would result in being shot, it's quite terrifying!

As for her and other post-Soviet-era Estonian prime ministers, they are all 'one-day politicians'. Of course, the economic situation is related to them, but they always shirk responsibility: 'What do I have to do with it, it's the fault of the previous administration.' This is an Estonian characteristic - who is responsible? Clearly, everyone has a responsibility."

"The St. Petersburg Newspaper": 95% of Narva's population are Russian-speaking, if they grow tired of this lifestyle and want to return to Russia as their 'homeland', can they bring the city back with them?

"It's impossible now, the opportunity has passed. Moreover, don't underestimate the opponent: Tallinn won't let the city's residents openly starve, they will slowly make people accustomed to 'eating less and less'.

Furthermore, Estonia controls the border crossing policy with Russia, and can close the border at any time - in fact, relevant discussions are already underway..."

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511283783409123881/

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