Russian-speaking estonia. Opinion: in Estonia, Russians have been turned into second-class people. Domestic policy of Estonia

On the way from St. Petersburg to Tallinn, Estonia begins gradually, and if the border was conditional, as between Russia and Belarus, it would not be so easy to understand where it passes.

Well-groomed Kingisepp, the former Yamburg with the magnificent Catherine's Cathedral, Art Nouveau houses and the estate of Baron Karl Bystrom - still in Russia: the Bolsheviks gave it the Estonian name in honor of an Estonian comrade-in-arms, the German name was given by the Swedes in the 17th century, and that was the Novgorod fortress of Yam ... The town owes its well-groomedness to the chemical plant behind the forest, which has successfully “fitted into the market”, and even though Bistrom is an Eastsee baron, only his ancestors are not from Estonia, but from Courland. But in the perspective of the highway, almost immediately after Kingisepp, a high tower becomes visible ... There is Ida-Virumaa, or East Virginia, the strangest county in Estonia.

Two Strongholds

This is probably the most beautiful border in the world: two medieval fortresses look menacingly at each other across the fast Narova River. Founded by the Danes in 1223, the Russians called Narva Rugodiv; The Germans called Ivangorod, founded in 1492, Kontr-Narva. They are very different: in Ivangorod there is a huge, squat, spacious Russian fortress wriggling with gray walls over the hills; in Narva - a compact and very high German castle. Between them there was their own "arms race": the Narva Long German is slightly higher than the Tallinn "namesake" (51 meters), and the Ivangorod fortress from shelling from its top is covered by a frighteningly high wall.

It was restless on the border even in peacetime: for example, once the Germans and Russians had a skirmish, and in the end the Ivangorod residents could not stand how the knight-dogs there "barked the sovereign", crossed the river in boats, and when the fight ended - suddenly with surprise realized that they had captured the castle ... which, however, had to be returned in order to avoid a real war. For the first time the border was "erased" by Ivan the Terrible, who took Narva in 1558. Since 1581, both cities belonged to the Swedes, in 1710, on the second attempt, Peter I took them, and even when Estonia separated for the first time, she took Ivangorod with her. In general, most of its history, "Two Strongholds" belonged to the same state and almost never fought with each other ... but now it's hard to believe.

What is surprising: from the low Ivangorod Narva is seen much better than Ivangorod from the Narva tower. Without a Schengen visa (but - necessarily having a pass to the border zone!), You can see the most important sights of Narva - the castle, the huge 17th century town hall, the Dark Garden on the Swedish bastions, the imposing Stalinist ensemble of the main street of Pushkin and a high-rise building with a water tower on the roof, the Resurrection Cathedral and the largest in Estonia Alexander's Church at the turn of the XIX-XX centuries, distant factories of Krenholm. From Narva, one can see such parts of the Ivangorod fortress, which are practically impossible to approach from the Russian side - for example, the Peter's Caponier.

People are actively plying along the Friendship Bridge just below both fortresses - Narvites and Ivangorod residents can cross the border according to a simplified scheme.

Russian capital of Estonia

The gloomy gray Narva is not very different from the same Kingisepp or Vyborg: well, the streets are a little cleaner, lawns are much more decent, shopping centers are an order of magnitude larger, and the inscriptions are mostly not our way, but five-story buildings and their courtyards, the assortment and music of a few cafes, faces of passers-by, ubiquitous Russian speech constantly make you forget that, in fact, you are already in the European Union. It's scary to say - even a monument to Lenin is still standing! Narva is the third largest city in Estonia and is reputed to be its "Russian capital", Estonians in it are only 3% of the population, and even those tribesmen are mistaken for Russians. In the early 1990s, there were even attempts to create a Prinar republic, and only a high standard of living saved Estonia from its Transnistria.

In general, Narva has a peculiar fate: in 1558-81 she managed to be the Russian "window to Europe" - Ivan the Terrible captured her first, left her last, and all these years the Revel merchants with tears in their eyes watched the merchant ships pass by them to the mouth of the Narova. The Swedes, having defeated the Russian army, also oriented Narva to the east, making it the center of a separate province - Ingermanlandia, stretching to the Neva and Lake Ladoga. Under the Swedes, Narva had the same status as Revel and Riga, and once had a wonderful Old city in the Swedish Baroque style ... alas, completely destroyed by the war, except for its main building - the town hall. In the same region, Narva remained under Russia - only now it was called the St. Petersburg province, and with a very impressive size, Narva became a provincial town in the Yamburg district. The borders of the provinces literally ran along its outskirts; on the Estland side, Narva was overgrown with suburbs with the Estonian population. In the city itself there was a Polish church and even a church of Ingermanland Finns, but the Estonians were able to build their own temple only in the outskirts of Joaorg.

Kreenholm and Parusinka

A little higher than Narva, on the river, a hydroelectric power station is clearly visible, hiding a real waterfall. In general, there are many waterfalls in Northern Estonia - after all, the Great Ledge passes here, starting under water off the coast of Sweden and stretching to Lake Ladoga: where it came from, no one knows, but sheer cliffs over the sea and waterfalls on the rivers are a common part of the landscape. Narva hydroelectric power station - not on the waterfall itself, but on the channel below.

At the waterfall, back in the days when the factories were water-operated, a powerful industrial complex grew: the legendary philanthropist and finance minister Alexander Stieglitz opened a canvas manufactory on the St. Petersburg shore, in Estonian, with the support of the German merchant Knopp, the Moscow Region Old Believers Alexei Khludov and Kuzma Soldatyonkov launched production. Kreenholm was also called Ostsee Manchester, and if Stieglitz had order in the factories and an excellent salary for those times, then in 1872 the Old Believers had an epidemic of cholera, which turned into the first strike of workers in the history of Russia, primarily Estonian.

Now the opposite is true. Parusinka, a distant district of Ivangorod, amazes with its gloomy color. High shabby walls, amazing architecture, a prevailing factory tower, a rocky bed of the Narova with a ledge of a waterfall (water is rare here now - everything flows along the canal to the hydroelectric power station) ... here you feel like a hero of Dickens's novels, here you expect that now smoky voices will tighten " Get up, branded by a curse ... ".

Kreenholm is also a bit gloomy, but it still affects the fact that it is a rather lively area in the center of Narva. There is a hospital in a luxurious building of the early 20th century, and a long-defunct factory with high towers resembles a Romanesque cathedral. But on the whole, the same world of workers' barracks, brick houses for bosses and English engineers, neglected courtyards where Russian boys play ... An Orthodox church is equipped in the old prison. The monumental Stalinist-style House of Culture stands abandoned, and the park around it is overgrown and littered. But all the same, the most amazing thing here is not even Dickensianism, but how the border cuts two districts "live": on one side of it you can hear music playing in the car on the other.

Estonian Donbass

And how did Ida-Viru County become like this? Indeed, even a hundred years ago, even in Narva, Estonians accounted for 2/3 of the population, but after the war they never returned to the destroyed city. The answer is a little further towards Tallinn, in Sillamäe and Kohtla-Järve. The tall pipes of the Narva State District Power Plant, which provide 90% of Estonia's electricity, are left behind, and among the green fields, cozy farms, gabled churches, baronial manors, "hemp" of abandoned mills, you suddenly see real waste heaps. Ida-Virumaa is a mining region, but it is not coal that is mined here, but oil shale.

It all started with the First World War: in St. Petersburg, the 4th largest city of the then world, coal was transported by sea from England. But the war blocked the sea routes, the railways could not cope with the supply of Donbass coal, and then someone remembered that in 1902, near the Estland village of Kukers, geologist Nikolai Pogrebov discovered a deposit of oil shale. Their production began to develop rapidly, only gaining momentum under young Estonia: after all, this gave it energy independence, and shale oil was exported. The oil shale processing factory in Kohtla-Järve was even featured on the 100-kroon banknote - there was generally a typically socialist storyline with a hammer in the foreground.

Kohtla-Järve

The plant in Kohtla-Järve is working properly to this day, hums, smokes and stinks in order, its workshops are neat, the grass in front of them is mowed, the tower with 100 crowns is still standing. Excavators climb over colorful dumps, railroad locomotives are scurrying about, and although only one of the 7 mines that operated under the Soviets remains - shale oil is still being exported, and Narva TPPs still operate not on Russian gas or Norwegian oil, but on local shale.

In Kohtla-Järve, the remains of the Old Town are preserved - but here these are not narrow streets, castles and town halls, but just a working-class district of the 1920s and 1930s, the most striking building of which is an Orthodox church in the style of Cubism, completely unimaginable in Russia. But most of Kohtla-Järve is such a familiar housing estate of the Stalin era, where, again, only mowed lawns, inscriptions in Latin letters and huge supermarkets give out that we are in the West.

Kohtla-Nõmme, Kukruse, Jõhvi

In the neighboring Kohtla-Nõmme there is a mine-museum, where an elderly miner takes excursionists in helmets and overalls. Kukers, now Kukruse, is a tiny settlement, but it has a shale museum and an overgrown waste heap of the first mine, which was closed in the 1960s. Other villages like Sompa are known throughout Estonia as a place for walking dangerous.

And between the villages of Ida-Virumaa there is a small town of Jõhvi, unlike them. Here is already a full-fledged Estonia with a medieval church, an abundance of cafes and impressively decorated streets, and it is quite possible to meet a person who does not speak Russian. This is probably why it is here, and not in Narva, that the Ida-Viru County administration is located.

Russian Estonians and vice versa

But how did the oil shale get out of here for the Estonians? It's very simple: the main challenge of the USSR after the Second World War was the American atomic bomb, the country urgently needed uranium and they were looking for it wherever possible ... for example, they tried to extract it from oil shale. Therefore, people from all over the Union were sent to restore Narva and Kohtla-Järve, replacing indigenous population destroyed cities, and by the sea the city of Sillamäe grew up, now also known throughout Estonia for its Stalinist architecture: its plant was built to extract uranium and other rare elements from oil shale. And although the project did not justify itself, the Russian people who settled in Ida-Virumaa could not be sent back.

So they live here, half are non-citizens, but many have never been to Russia either - it is much easier for them to travel to Berlin, Oslo or Rome than to Moscow. However, everyone dreams of visiting St. Petersburg at least once, but the Estonians themselves adore St. Petersburg. The local Russians have a different, compared to the Russians, fashion - in clothes, hairstyles, jewelry, slang ... which may well be organically complemented by a St. George ribbon or a hit of the national pop music on the phone. They don't run at a red light across the street - a 120 euro fine is scary, but it's no harder to see a drunk under a fence here than in Russia.

In general, Ida-Virumaa is an island: to the west they speak another language, to the east - the visa border, and from the north and south the sea and Lake Peipsi. Here, some respect Russia more than Russians, others love Estonia more than Estonians. Many expect Russia to return to take away Estonian independence - some with horror, others with hope. Both of these extremes are ridiculous enough. And they all remain Russian - in the language, in their favorite books and songs, in the invariability of the "cultural code". The ship "Ida-Virumaa" set sail from the homeland and set sail.

A decaying republic mired in poverty and drug addiction. Thieves in law rule the country and rip off the already poor population. Money is spent anywhere - on American military scrap metal, on the purchase of anti-tank cobblestones - 40 million. but not for the good of the people. Estonia itself is leading itself to the self-destruction of the nation. No war is needed with such politicians ...

Buying a normal finished kopeck piece - 35-40 thousand euros. but this is bullshit. Recently we bought a broken-down two in Mustamäe Khrushche, renovated 30 years ago, without a balcony. area of ​​37 squares -43000 Euros. So, what is normal for only 50-55 thousand.

I live in Tallinn (yes, we write the name of the city with two Hs) since birth. Well, what can I say, the author, if you want to yell at YOU every time, Come to your Russia. There are practically no jobs here, all more or less decent places are occupied by local title ones. Russians work mainly for a salary of 400-500 euros. Everywhere you need a language, even in a fucking supermarket the cashier basically won't switch to Russian (if she's Estonian). During the crisis, dozens of Russians were dumped, the outflow continues.

Are you kidding about the mild climate? In the summer a couple of days +25 and sunny, the rest of the rains, rains. A country of eternal autumn, normal weather for us is cloudy and windy. There are snowy winters, but there are also oak and wind. Expensive heating and communal services. To get a residence permit, you will have to run, you may not even be afraid of the dominance of migrants (yeah, we are so lumpy with an allowance of 19 euros). Food is expensive, medicine is even more expensive. Russians are not bad here, who knows the state language well and works in large companies.

German your here nafig did not give up to anyone, learn Finnish and Swedish then. English, in fact, is also not particularly needed (well, unless you work directly with foreigners), Estonians know it poorly enough. If you want to live here, learn Estonian, the local people are wildly shaking over it.

I also live in this very eSStonia. I dream and still can't get out of the local swamp. Well! ? Who wants to be constantly bombarded with hatred and contempt? You are welcome! Moreover, if you finally notice the first only after five years, then the second - much later. You need to have a trained eye. You will disdain Estonians for at least the first five, or even all 10 years: you do not behave like this, you do not speak like that, you do not move as it is considered decent here. Estonians, however, will look nice to Russians. , friendly people. For God's sake. Come.

Neutral reviews

Positive reviews

I moved to Estonia in January 2015. Officially residence permit from 01/05/2015. I was registered with the unemployment fund and I was immediately - on January 15, 2015, sent to a 3-month Estonian language course. We studied every day for 5-6 hours. As a result, A-2 passed 90% the first time. A year later I found a job. Now I work, at the same time I study the language, in May I already passed the B-2 exam, which is necessary condition for the teacher. I like the country and I don't feel like a stranger here. The only thing that upsets me is to pass the exam and really speak the language at a conversational level - 2 big differences :)).

Normal country, just different. Very different, hardworking and, I can't find the word, - modest. All the good things that were said before are accepted. I come very rarely, but I love, admire and enjoy. Negative, it certainly exists, but this is the reality of life.

I have been in love with Tallinn ever since I went here with my mother to my grandmother. When we moved here 10 years ago, I was indescribably happy: I felt at home. This feeling has strengthened in me over the years, but it seems to me that Tallinn is not developing, there are many migrants here (if you throw slippers at me, I have citizenship), the city has become kind of gray.

Estonians do not find work FOR THAT WAGE THAT THEY WANT. The salary in Estonia to them, the EU citizens, seems small. And for Russians, it is quite itself, two times higher than the average (that is, about 60 thousand rubles per month).

A very, very controversial issue.

I had to be in Estonia, specifically in Tartu and Tallinn. I didn't feel any negativity towards myself, there were nice people around me, mostly Estonians, of course. It is quite possible that friendliness was for diverting the eyes, attracting Russian tourists, but it did not seem to me that way, especially since I was surrounded not by politicians, but by ordinary people.

The first thing I heard in Tartu was a conversation between teenagers: "Well, you know, I still want to get a normal job." All my attempts to speak Estonian ended with the answer of the interlocutor - "Speak Russian, you will understand better" :). If you do not attack a foreigner, then they will answer you in Russian, I think so 75-80%. Speech, by the way, is mostly without an accent.

All the guys are quite educated, but I am not an Estonian citizen - I cannot talk about the country's problems, especially about education from the inside. We lived in small houses-hotels with Russian-speaking ... Abkhazians, oddly enough. Inexpensive, close to transport.

Russian schools do exist, no matter how much the Estonian government wants to reduce their number.

But the problem of the USSR's past is there. Both peoples have different opinions - Russians and Balts. For them, we are occupiers. For us: they are the peoples we saved from the Nazis, which, in general, is the case. I often hear that pensioners in Russia live much worse than in the Baltics. Estonians and Latvians hate us, and so on. It is a very controversial issue, especially if we consider that people who have not traveled to the Baltic States and have not communicated with people think so. But again, a monument Soviet soldier... As far as I remember, these 3 states entered the USSR out of necessity, and not guided by the friendship of peoples. But you can talk about it forever.

If you want to acquire Estonian citizenship - it is difficult, difficult, expensive, long, at least my friends who received this citizenship said so. As for the permanent place of residence, given the fear of discrimination, these are the neighbors that will come across ...

My husband and I moved a little over 2 months ago.

So far we are very satisfied, the main advantages for us:

Ecology: fresh air, forests right inside the city, sea

Location (within a stone's throw of almost all of Europe, low-cost airlines from Tallinn and Riga, from Kiev to fly in less than 2 hours)

Estonians are friendly and polite, while assimilating is easy due to the good level of Russian and English

Developed areas (no problems with cycling, illuminated pedestrian crossings, etc.), and of course the most beautiful old town

Prices are not much higher than those in Kiev, and the standard of living is an order of magnitude higher

Upon arrival, a residence permit is issued (it took us 10 days), with which free travel on public transport, and for travel within the EU, Schengen is no longer needed

Developed IT community, hackathons

Quality products in supermarkets, delicious in cafes and restaurants

A good one-bedroom apartment in the center of Tallinn costs 400-500 euros per month (excluding utilities). Utilities - a maximum of 70 euros in the summer and 120 in the winter, but depends on the house and consumption of course.

Not taking into account the apartment, we spend about 1000 euros a month on 2x (assuming that 50% of the time we eat in restaurants, go to the cinema and spa, work out in sports clubs, buy clothes).

One more small tip :)

In short, we moved a year ago, and we are happy with the results! There is some kind of calm confidence that it turned out to be very right choice in comparison with the "untwisted" Poland and Germany. Now a free text.

I used to be here as a tourist 4 times and even then I was surprised that I felt at home from the first days. And so it turned out :) assimilation? Rather, getting used to the new comfortable city and the peculiarities of the local way of life. It went smoothly. I don’t feel like a stranger, an emigrant and the like.

It is very easy to live in Tallinn, I want to walk a lot (the sea !!!), play sports for pleasure, just enjoy life, nature, people around (especially Estonians are often touched, very good people). The realization of the value of simple and kind human emotions came.

Traveling has become spontaneous and more interesting due to the absence of borders (although air traffic leaves much to be desired ... the small market of a small country affects ...).

I work in QA. I was looking for having already moved, living here on a D visa, the offer was made on the third attempt. I don't have a very strong professional experience and this result was impressive. Compared to Kiev, all interviews are like a fairy tale: they are not trying to fill you up, to reveal weaknesses, humiliate, but on the contrary - they want to find out what you can do and how you will be useful. As a result, I work happily, I am 100% satisfied with the company. The working languages ​​for me are English and Russian, it is impossible that one of my colleagues does not speak either one or the other. Employment was quite fast (interview-contract), and the registration of a residence permit was instantaneous, one might say.

Communicating with the authorities is an amazing experience altogether. Everything is very professional, the employees strive to help as much as possible. In the migration departments, at the registration of residence or other offices (even the police and investigators were pleased when they had to apply for one funny case).

If you go through the numbers, then for two about 1500 per month for all expenses. Of these, 500 rent for a two-room apartment in the center in a new comfortable house, 60-100 communal apartments for the season. Internet 13, sports 140 (with pool). In general, in comparison with Kiev, they began to allow themselves more, eat tastier and better quality, and much less money began to go. There is an opportunity to save for an apartment, which is more than realistic to buy on credit (unlike Kiev, again). In terms of food prices, you can compare this: cheaper than in Kiev, when the rate was 10-11 per euro (now I don’t know what prices are there), but since that time nothing has risen in price here, only it is getting cheaper (and there is still much to be cheaper, judging by Germany).

In short, despite the fact that the salary is less, in the end we get more and better quality.

Here it is - a calm and well-fed European life, with plans for the future and confidence, as they say :)

PS. And also there are often no workers in the wardrobes, he hung it himself, took it himself (even in the aimax). Indicative :)

She moved to Tallinn with her 3-year-old daughter six months ago. Renting an apartment costs 500┬ a month along with utility bills (a modern 18-apartment building with a fenced area and its own parking space, cleaning a wet entrance every other day, 54 square meters, one bedroom + a kitchen-living room, among the pine trees, squirrels and roe deer run around come to drink from the stream - I watch from the window). The prestigious area of ​​Pirita, 5 minutes to the sea, -15 minutes to the center by car. There are no traffic jams, the movement is cultural. Private kindergarten - 320 euros per month, in the forest. Fitness spa center-10 min, 700┬ year, conditions are excellent. The products are great. The air is fresh. Boring not boring? Who cares about it. I don't go to nightclubs myself, but I think that's okay with that. Plus for me, it's easy to get to Europe. By ferry-Sweden, Finland, Norway, by plane -Germany, England, Holland, etc. In Moscow, to Sheremetyevo you can go anywhere from here, the airport is close by. There is really no bureaucracy, a lot is being done online. I am not very aware of the work, tk. did not try to search, many say that it is difficult, but I met many local educated Russians who know Estonian, they are all right. Estonians are reserved but quite friendly. For me, this is better than the crowd of friendly and overly friendly Asians in Moscow. It is a very good city for a quiet, I would say "eco-friendly" life with children, for those who are tired of dirt, smog, traffic jams, guest workers and other delights of the metropolis. I don’t miss Moscow, there’s only a lack of people with whom I’m used to communicating. Although people rarely see each other in Moscow, when I come to Moscow for two weeks, I meet with someone more often than before. I do not know if you are still interested in all this?

In some ways you are right, in others you are not. Benefits, albeit small, are available. For example, we have three children (the youngest is not yet three years old) in the amount of 190 euros per month. In Russia, in our case, we would no longer receive any benefits. The child went to first grade - an allowance of 320 euros (16,000 rubles). The prices for communal apartments are high, but it’s pleasant to live in a house, as there are much less dirty entrances and unkempt courtyards here than in Russia. There is social housing, although it is not easy to get it and the contingent there is appropriate, but in Russia this is no better. Education in Russian schools is at a pretty decent level, I don’t know where you got the idea of ​​"going back three grades." There are weaker schools, and there are very good lyceums. Language, if desired and necessary, is learned even by not polyglots. Russian saleswomen and guards in stores, who do not at all give the impression of highbrow intellectuals, speak it quite fluently. Medical care is not at a very high level, the system with family doctors is really not very convenient. But at the same time, children under 19 years of age receive free dental treatment at the expense of the state health insurance fund in almost any clinic, and not only in poor state clinics, as in Russia. As for teaching history, United Russia probably would not have approved the local programs, but on the whole there is nothing terrible in them. In my opinion, a single history textbook, which they are trying to push through in Russian schools, is much worse and more dangerous in this sense, because its goal is to wean off thinking and establish like-mindedness.

So there are problems here, but it's not worth painting everything in black.

She was born and raised in Estonia. She left for the USSR. It is a pity, did not return to the collapse of the scoop. Then they still lived normally in Russia. Now it was “twitching” towards elderly parents in Maardu, such as family reunification, caring for the elderly, etc. But the fig - they refused. It's a shame, however, but according to the law, everything is true. Now I "puzzle" my head how to get back, and not leave the Schengen area indefinitely in 90 days. It's a little too late to look for a husband after 45 years. But I definitely want to leave Russia. And I’ll leave. There is no need to frighten me with problems in Estonia, I am already frightened by Russian problems. After our Pimi and Maxima, it’s just nauseous to go into Magnets with Pyaterochka. And I get used to the ubiquitous Russian rudeness only a couple of months after returning from my historical homeland to the Scolens-rising country.

A wonderful country to live in. Excellent business environment. For six months she was able to develop a consulting firm.

Parliamentary elections were recently held in Estonia. Z Protecting the rights of the Russian-speaking population, the Center Party came in second with 25 percent of the vote. However, the slogan"Estonia for Estonians" and nationalists is still in favor. A professor of the Department of European Studies told about this on the air of the video channel. SPbSUNikolay Mezhevich.

What choice did Estonia make?

- Nikolay Maratovich, and Were the parliamentary elections in Estonia unexpected for you and for the Estonians?

- I think that for you, and for me, and for the voters of the Republic of Estonia, there was a significant element of surprise.

- In what?

- Four parties were represented in the parliament. There will now be six parties. This is a pretty significant increase. The Social Democrats have lost their votes. This is a fairly young party, with a young energetic leader who held a position in the field of foreign and domestic policy almost the same as the entire right-wing coalition.

Accordingly, this is also a surprise. It is also a surprise that despite the obvious victory in the personal primacy of the prime minister and the political leader of the reformists, the overall situation of the reformists turned out to be, to put it mildly, not brilliant.

That is, there is no great confidence in the coalition in power, it has significantly dropped. We can say that all four traditional parties are facing a challenge. This is a challenge to society due to the lack of novelty in programs, attention to issues social life and the national economy. The last two points apply, perhaps, to everyone except the centrists.

- Mayor of Tallinn Edgar Savisaar confidently won the individual competition. His Center Party also achieved great success, but nevertheless gained 2 percent fewer votes than the Reform Party. Why couldn't they come out on top?

- In the individual championship, Savisaar really retained his positions, even improved, but the radical victory of the centrists did not happen. Sociological research data showed that the centrists will gain more votes than before. And so it happened. But no one promised an absolute victory. An absolute victory in a parliamentary republic is 50 percent plus one vote, that is, the opportunity to form a parliamentary coalition out of oneself.

If this happened, then the President of Estonia and the entire composition of the parliament would have to admit that this is absolutely the first political force in rank, although they were constantly oppressed, accused of all sins, including high treason. The winning party appoints the prime minister. This did not happen, so it is likely that we will have a somewhat new coalition in which the traditional right-wing parties will add new right-wing parties to themselves, and thus will be able to ignore the centrists in principle in the future.

- And what are these new games? Are they somehow different from the traditional right-wing parties? Why did they take votes from the Social Democrats?

- There is a formula "50 shades of gray", and this is "50 shades of the right". That is, they are right-wingers, conservatives and nationalists. These are the new leaders, although the same dish, but with a slightly different sauce. In fact, they are all rightists, and these are new ones with elements of ultra-rightism. In fact, their slogan is "Estonia for Estonians".

In general, now we can say that two more ultra-conservative nationalist parties have been added to the two traditionally right-wing parties.

- Did they go on under the slogan "Estonia for Estonians"?

- Yes, that was their main slogan. In foreign policy in general, there is only one slogan: "Estonia is a besieged fortress, Moscow is an enemy." Therefore, we need to prepare to defend the country, we are threatened, all our problems are exclusively of Moscow origin. Moreover, these are all problems in the past, present and future - they are all Moscow problems. In short, everyone is to blame, from the Pskov principality to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin.

The Center Party proceeds from the premise that Estonia can develop effectively in the economic and political sphere if it establishes mutually beneficial partnerships with all its neighbors. From the point of view of Savisaar and the whole party, Estonia can then be effective.

While still a young man, in 1987 Edgar Savisaar came out with the same slogan, with the program of an independent Estonia, which was to become a bridge between East and West. He actively promoted this idea, in many ways he led his country to independence, and without bloodshed. In Latvia and Lithuania, there were victims associated with those political transformations of 1990-1991. In Estonia it was not.

- How many now in Estonia do non-citizens live?

- Does your bus go to Narva? Can you tell me where you can buy a ticket?

To my innocent question, asked in Russian, the Estonian driver at the Tallinn bus station reacts wildly: he frowns and turns away, while not saying a word and disgustedly pointing somewhere with his hand. The ticket office, however, turns out to be in a different direction. Realizing that not everyone gets along with the Russian language in the former Soviet republic, in English I ask the cashier to give me a ticket. To the Estonian city, where 97% of the population are Russians ...

For the sake of fairness, I must say that during the trip I did not meet any ardent Russophobes either in Tallinn or in Narva. Well, do not count as such Prime Minister of Estonia T. Rõivas, who nevertheless answered my question, also asked in Russian, albeit in Estonian (see). Ordinary Estonians for the most part speak Russian, and not bad. After all, Russians make up a quarter of the population - willy-nilly they have to be dealt with. Moreover, it seems that over time, the authorities of the republic understand that they cannot spread rot people just because they do not speak the language of the titular nation. In September, they promise to launch a Russian-language TV channel. And now the cinema is already being played in Russian, says "AiF" Sergei Stepanov, editor-in-chief, Narvskaya Gazeta: “Once they were limited to Russian subtitles. Now, for the sake of good attendance, all films are dubbed. In one cinema the same film can be shown in Russian in one hall, and in Estonian in another. Only business and no politics. "

"Like we are monsters!"

SS man's equipment. Tallinn Museum of the Occupation. Photo: AiF / Vitaly Tseplyaev

“We have nothing against the Russians,” Rünne, a student at the Estonian gymnasium in Narva, tells me. - Russians are the same people as we are: we drink beer together, we communicate. And "shit" is everywhere - somewhere there are more, somewhere less. " By the way, recently a scandal with a 24-year-old was discussed in the republic MP Jaak Madison... He defiantly left the basketball game, during the break of which a Russian song sounded. The young nationalist's trick was condemned by the Estonians themselves. “Yes, in the early 90s there was an outright dislike for the Russians, but now it is not,” S. Stepanov assures. - I have many Estonian colleagues who have married Russian girls. No problem! At some point, they realized that there were no Russians at all in the leadership of state institutions. And for political correctness, they began to recruit them specially. There are Russians in the Estonian parliament and among the country's deputies in the European Parliament. You just need to know the Estonian language to get into politics. ”

But many Russians do not want to learn Estonian in principle. And they are very offended by the country in which they feel like second-class citizens. Or even not citizens at all - tens of thousands of people, holders of so-called gray passports, have this status. "They say:" alien "s passport" (in English - "passport of a stranger"). As if we are the monsters from the movie Ridley Scott! Gennady Moskvin, representative of the Union of Estonian Non-Citizens in Kohtla-Järve... - According to the law, 180 days a year we must be here in Estonia - like serfs! Violate - a fine. People with such a passport are not accepted for legal work neither in Europe nor in Russia. And here there is no work, the industry is ruined. Of the 8 mines, one is left. " But Moskvin does not want to take the language proficiency test and receive an Estonian passport: “It will still be“ citizenship by naturalization ”, it can be taken away - for example, if a criminal case is opened against a person. And in general, why should I take an exam if my neighbor, whom I have known since childhood, received citizenship just like that, just because his father is Estonian? Where's the justice?!"

H Emodans of Estonians deported under the USSR. Tallinn Museum of the Occupation. Photo: AiF / Vitaly Tseplyaev

"The worms will eat Estonian"

The most offensive thing is that Russians in Estonia cannot really hope for Russia either. “Recently grandmothers come to me and cry: how can we return Russian citizenship? - tells Vladimir Petrov, Head of the Union of Russian Citizens of Estonia... - I ask: why do you need it? Here, they say, we wish to be buried in Ivangorod, in our native cemetery ... I say: calm down, you will be eating Estonian worms, you will not return your citizenship in any way. The Russian law is written in such a way that it is practically impossible to do it. " Petrov points to the building across the street from his office in Narva: “This is the consulate of the Russian Federation. There are huge queues here. Mostly people come to change their Russian passport: some smart guy figured out that this should be done every 5 years. Introduced an electronic queue, so fashionable. But they forgot that the average age of these people is 70 years. And these unfortunate grandmothers and grandfathers cannot solve the issue in a day. Either the queue does not move, then it is difficult for them to fill out the documents by hand ”.

The "Russian Estonians" also suffer from the cross-sanctions of the West and the Russian Federation. “Russian-speaking people are already losing in terms of income, and then Russia has also banned the supply of fish from the Baltic states,” says S. Stepanov. - And it is mainly Russians who are employed at fish enterprises in Estonia. The sanctions hit the tourism sector as well. Since the New Year, the flow of Russians who loved to relax here has sharply decreased. Many SPA hotels are on the verge of bankruptcy. But the authorities look at this calmly, because SPA-hotels are private and belong to whom? That's right, the Russians. "

Before returning home, I visit the Museum of the Occupation, which opened in the early 2000s in the center of Tallinn. The caretaker does not turn her nose up, recognizing in me an "occupier" from Moscow - on the contrary, she willingly and in Russian advises what to see. The idea of ​​the museum is simple: Estonia suffered both from the USSR and the Third Reich, but from the USSR for longer and more. As a souvenir, tourists are offered, for example, chocolates with a swastika and a star on the wrapper ... Here you understand: mutual grievances of two peoples after the "divorce" in the 90s is a long time. Maybe forever. But it would be good to make sure that the ghosts of the past do not poison our lives today. Talking on different languages but still living side by side.

My name is Larisa Vlasenkova. I was born and raised in. Since childhood, she was engaged in various sports, until she was ten years old, and chose swimming. At eighteen I was already a master of sports, traveled all over Europe, even visited Canada once. Competitive and training life makes you spend a lot of time on the road and in other cities and countries.

There is usually little time left for personal life, so athletes often find their life companions in their environment. There is nothing surprising in this. We have no time to go to parties and discos, and there is no need for us. Sport mode and desire in free time get enough sleep.

While I was actively involved in swimming, I, frankly, had no time for serious relationships, I wanted to achieve the highest achievements in my form, that is, to become at least a European champion, not to mention the world championship. But in swimming the competition is very high, and I was able to only two times climb to the second step of the podium in European tournaments.

Swimming is rapidly getting younger, and after twenty-seven there is nothing to do in the pool. Then it was time to think about what I would do next. Sooner or later, this question arises before all athletes. I was probably more fortunate than others. I had a lot of fellow swimmers, guys, and had relationships with some of them. You understand, hotels, training centers and so on.

One Estonian was especially persistent, with whom life often confronted even at the junior and youth level. Once at a competition in Finland, he generally said: “When you get married, call me. I'll wait". I didn't take it very seriously at first, but the guy named Axel Kaas was persistent. And almost three years ago I gave him my consent.

You should have seen Axel. Tall, muscular blond, well-built like all swimmers. He spoke excellent Russian, had an exquisite sense of humor, cultured and polite. He read poems to me, gave me flowers. How much does a woman need?

This is a difficult time for me. It was necessary to decide on a future career. I, like many of my friends, graduated from the Institute of Physical Education and received a coaching license. Axel suggested that I move to him in Tallinn, where he trained young people, and become his assistant. He promised to make the invitation from the Estonian Swimming Federation without problems. All that remained was to master the Estonian language and formalize our relationship.

My parents did not mind. They liked Axel immediately. Therefore, we are closely engaged in paperwork. Many Russians regard Estonia as a springboard to get to Europe. In 2004, this Baltic country became a member of the European Union and received corresponding privileges. Now many citizens of Ukraine, Belarus and other republics of the former Soviet Union strive to obtain Estonian citizenship precisely as a transit one, in order to then move to a developed country, such as Germany or France.

Of course, this circumstance cannot but irritate the Estonian authorities. Therefore, they treat all potential emigrants with some prejudice. Estonian immigration legislation is very strict for this very reason. Even ethnic Estonians who have decided to move to their historical homeland face certain difficulties in obtaining citizenship. What can we say about other nationalities. The only privilege when emigrating to Estonia can be enjoyed by those citizens who are descendants of the indigenous inhabitants of Estonia who lived in this country from 1918 to 1940. This is the period of independence of Estonia.

The rest of the applicants have to go a long enough way to naturalize here.

Emigration methods

I had to familiarize myself in some detail with all the possible ways of emigration to Estonia in order not to get into a mess. Dad warned me that marriage may be temporary, and I can really end up in a foreign country, like a broken trough. Therefore, you need to worry about a fallback option, which may turn out to be the main one at any moment.

Estonia is not a wealthy country, so foreigners who want to do business on its territory and are ready to open their own company are welcomed here with open arms. Having created a commercial structure, you can really count on getting an Estonian residence permit. It is first issued for two years, and then extended for another five years. In order for the residence permit to be renewed, it is necessary to prove that the company opened by the new immigrant has carried out economic activities, especially during the last eight months.

In addition, it is very important not to have any problems with the law, to comply with the living conditions in Estonia, then you can count on the automatic issuance of a permit that guarantees permanent residence. Even if you have a residence permit in Estonia, you can get a visa-free entry to any country of the Schengen agreement. A foreigner in Estonia has the right to register a joint stock company or a company similar to Russian societies with limited liability.

To register a joint-stock company, it is necessary to deposit at least 25 thousand euros in the authorized capital; when registering an LLC, you will need to deposit about two and a half thousand euros into the company's account. This money must be in one of the Estonian banks. Registration of a company is also associated with other expenses - payment of state fees, other mandatory payments, paperwork in a law firm, which can range from six to eight thousand euros.

Estonia has a very moderate tax policy, there is no income tax. Value added tax is 18 percent, but it is paid only by companies with an annual turnover exceeding 16 thousand euros. All companies pay the government 35% of the funds they receive in the form of income. The company can be managed by a hired director, and the owner can live in another state.

By registering a company, you can purchase any real estate object, land plot, any movable property in Estonia on the same day.

In addition to business emigration, there are the following ways to move to Estonia:

• for the purpose of family reunification;
• employment;
• obtaining higher education;
• constant and legal sufficient income.

Axel and I decided to take two paths at once: register our marriage and receive an invitation to work for me. Even so, I needed to learn Estonian.

So, we officially registered our marriage, and I became Larisa Kaas. Then I had to fill out an extensive questionnaire, in which I indicate my future address of residence in Tallinn, the place of the proposed work. I had already received an invitation from the Estonian Swimming Federation. The problem was that so far there is no orderly program for professionals in Estonia, but a call from an employer is very important for a positive decision by the local immigration authorities. An employment contract was concluded with me for a period of one year with the possibility of renewal, indicating the exact place of work and position.

It is quite possible that my marriage to an Estonian citizen would have been enough to obtain a temporary residence permit, but I myself wanted to feel confident in new country and have a constant source of income so as not to feel dependent.

Statistics of marriages of Russian women and Estonians

Do you think that I threw myself into this pool with my head? No, of course, I read what they write on the Internet on this topic, collected all the information I found in one pile, and that's what I got.

Many Russian women are interested in Estonian men, who are pragmatic and reserved. There are certain stereotypes that are the basis for the image of Estonian men. But once you get to know them better, not a trace remains of these boring stereotypes.

I can say with good reason, being married to a 100% Estonian, that he is not so slow. Firstly, he was an excellent athlete, showing very fast seconds in the pool and winning various tournaments. Perhaps the conclusion about the slowness is being drawn due to the fact that Estonians speak Russian a little too long? But when they speak their native language, their speech sounds fast enough. Also, Estonian men seem cold, devoid of feelings and emotions, but this is not true. My Axel and his friends, especially those who play sports, are full of enthusiasm and emotion.

What's really true is that Estonians love to work and are very friendly. My Axel is a typical Estonian, proud, physically strong, honest and tidy. To communicate with him - I assure you, sheer pleasure. Axel, like many of his compatriots, has a very responsible attitude towards the family, he is a wonderful owner, anxiously looks after the house and, of course, for me.

Estonians have a good sense of humor, and many of them respect old traditions, although they cannot be called old-fashioned. I assure you, an Estonian is a very reliable life companion, physical and material support, an irreplaceable assistant in household chores.

As far as I could understand, many Russian women tied their fate with Estonians. For this, there are now a lot of dating services, including on the Internet. I was lucky, I knew my future husband for several years before connecting my life with him.

Now about the living conditions

Estonia ranks 40th in the list of countries in terms of living standards, while Russia is only 71st. Of course, my move to this Baltic country has nothing to do with this indicator. I would love my fellow countryman and stay in my beloved Volgograd. But at the time when I was thinking about marriage, there was not a single worthy candidate among my friends. Only married. And with this category I have long decided not to have anything to do.

This 40th place is calculated by the UN based on data on the average life expectancy in the country, the proportion of literate people, school attendance and gross product per capita.

The main problem that arose after the move was communication in in public places... I still didn’t understand Estonian very well and spoke falteringly, because not so long ago I had begun to learn the language, and I had very little practice. Axel made me talk to him only in Estonian at home, but I got angry and constantly switched to Russian.

And in shops and at work I had to explain myself in Estonian, because I saw how negative those around me were about Russian speech. Not all, of course, but many. As inexorable statistics say, there are one hundred thousand people living in Estonia who do not have any citizenship, neither Estonian, nor Russian, nor any other. How can this be, ask. But they entered from different countries, received a residence permit, but no citizenship. In Estonia, this procedure is very complicated, so many people cannot succeed. And many do not worry too much about this, live on the basis of a permanent residence permit, and everything suits them.

In Narva, on the border with the Pskov region, almost the entire population is Russian-speaking. There, of course, it's easier to find mutual language... But in the northeast or south, the problems are more acute, but they are also being addressed. In Estonia, not a single demonstration or even a rally of people whose rights have been violated have been recorded. It has happened in neighboring Latvia more than once, but here the authorities somehow conduct a more flexible policy. Or the mentality of Estonians is more loyal, and the outlook is wide. In general, I would never marry a Latvian.

Even the official representatives coming from Russia, who are trying to understand the life of Russians in Estonia, conclude that our compatriots live, though not in ideal conditions, but in quite normal ones. You would think that Russians in Russia live in ideal conditions. I would not say that my parents live better in Volgograd than the parents of my husband Axel Kaas. Rather, the opposite is true. And the pension in Estonia is higher, and the standard of living is better, and the streets are calmer, and they are looking forward to tomorrow with great optimism.

So, there was a lot of noise around Russian schools in Estonia. And it seems to me that they are quite enough. The problem now seems to have turned the other way around. In Narva, for example, Russian parents want their children to attend an Estonian school. They want the future of their children to be connected with Estonia, so that they can get a full higher education and a well-paid job. As it turned out, there are few Estonian schools in Narva, and there are not enough Russian schools. This is connected, in my opinion, with the stabilization of life in Estonia, with its entry into the European Union. And there are few people willing to move to Russia.

A little about the country

By the nature of our work, my spouse and I travel a lot around Estonia, but rather to schools. We are looking for, so to speak, talents. This amazing country, with ancient cities and untouched nature, but at the same time with comfortable hotels and popular resorts, small shops and souvenir shops, shopping centers, noisy nightclubs and gourmet restaurants and cozy cafes.

Forest-covered hills, white sand, lakes and legends. A large number of different cultures have influenced the formation of Estonian culture. On the territory of the country there are many German manor houses, Danish knightly castles, medieval fortresses, domes of Orthodox churches, unique picturesque manors and mills.

Estonians rightfully consider themselves one of the most ancient peoples living in Europe. Estonia is very favorably located geographically. It is practically the crossroads of trade routes that run from South to North and from West to East. That is why these lands were literally snapped up at all times. From ancient times to the present time. That is why Estonia is so attractive for tourists now. This small country really has a lot to see.

Estonia became independent only in 1991, when the Soviet Union collapsed. The whole country is washed by the seas, the Gulfs of Finland and Riga, and itself is a flat plain and one and a half thousand islands.

Climate and population

The climate is to my liking, and according to the state of the body, it is quite suitable. Moderate, somewhere between maritime and continental, and not cold in winter, -7 on average, and not hot in summer, +20 on average. precipitation is not so much, most often in autumn and winter, although the weather is often changeable due to the proximity of the sea. You can swim until the end of summer, but since I spend my whole life in the pool, swimming is not a problem for me.

The population of the country is slightly more than one and a half million people, of which 800 thousand live in three large cities: in Tallinn - a little more than 500 thousand, in Tartu - about 120 thousand, and in Narva - more than 90 thousand people.

How to get there?

You can get to Estonia from Russia by a branded train from Moscow, which runs every day and reaches Tallinn in 15 hours, as well as by plane, which flies four times a week. In addition, many people get there by car or by bus, although no one here guarantees that you will not have to stand in a long queue at customs. Credit cards Visa, Eurocard, Mastercard, American Express are accepted almost everywhere in Estonia. There are ATM machines everywhere, so getting cash is not a problem. Travelers' checks are not very popular here, so it's better not to take them with you.

What's nice is that the Western Union international cash transfer system works. I use it regularly to send translations to my parents. Axel and I are making good money, why not help the elderly? And my husband constantly reminds me of this. Honoring old age, this respectful attitude towards the elderly is absorbed by Estonians with mother's milk.

How to contact?

The telephone code of Estonia is 372. By dialing it, you need to dial the county or city code, and then the phone number. To call abroad, we first dial 00. Any telephone conversation in Estonia is chargeable. Yes, this is good, once again no one will bother and chat for an hour. The information service number is 165, and if you dial 16116, the person you are calling will pay for the call.

Street machines allow you to contact any country in the world. In order to use a street machine, you need to buy a telephone card. They are sold for between 30 and 100 CZK. By the way, you can call almost any payphone, their numbers are indicated in the booths.

What to drive around Estonia?

When my husband is busy and cannot give me a lift by car, I take the bus with pleasure. These modern, mostly Swedish cars connect all cities with each other, and in the cities themselves they carry passengers, fulfilling the schedule up to a minute. Public transport services start at five thirty in the morning and finish at midnight.

Taxi drivers are very loyal, and most importantly - only by the meter. When ordering by phone, no additional payment is taken for this service. All prices for the convenience of passengers are posted on a sheet of paper that is attached to the side glass. The average cost is from 0.1 to 0.15 euros per kilometer, but you cannot do less than 0.5 euros per trip, even if the distance is very short.

About security measures

I assure you, it is difficult to find a country safer for life. Of course, the crime rate is not entirely zero, but tourists and locals alike feel comfortable in big cities, and at a distance from them, and in the daytime, and at night. Apparently, the safety of life attracts views of Estonia from all sides. But it is necessary to warn about the existing dangers, since in last years many immigrants came to Estonia from different countries of the former Soviet Union, and among them there are also those who like to profit at someone else's expense.

In the markets, you need to be on your guard and do not forget about pickpockets. It is better not to take valuable things, large sums of money with you. And you can do without a mobile phone and a passport when shopping.

When making expensive purchases, be sure to ask for a receipt, check if it matches the amount paid and keep it at home.

If at night you find yourself in an unfamiliar place, found yourself next to a dubious bar, it is possible that there will be those who want to check your wallet. You must behave prudently, not run into trouble and not give reason to doubt your sobriety.

You cannot drive in Estonia after drinking even a hundred grams of beer.

You cannot cross the road without waiting for a steady green signal. Do not assume that you can imperceptibly run across a red light. A car may appear unexpectedly, and then only you will be responsible for your life.

You can and should contact the police officers. They are always ready to help. Almost all police officers are fluent in Russian, and if not, they will immediately call a Russian-speaking colleague. There is number 110 to call the police, both from landline and mobile phones. On the number 112 you can call an ambulance or firefighters.

About prices for goods and services

A bus ticket in Tallinn costs about 1.3 euros for an hour trip.

A cup of coffee costs about 1.3 euros.

For a loaf of bread you need to pay about 1 euro.

To travel by bus from Tallinn to Tartu, you have to pay 9.9 euros.

For a business lunch in a cafe or restaurant, you need to pay about 5 euros.

A bottle of beer costs 1 euro.

It is most profitable to exchange currency at one of the banks that work on weekdays from 9 am to 6 pm, and some of them work until lunchtime on Saturdays. There are exchange offices in any large hotel, airport, shopping center and railway station. You have to be careful, because a favorable rate is indicated on the sign in front of the exchange rate, and people learn about the commission only by giving away their bills.

About taxes and utility bills

My husband and I live in a two-room apartment in the center of Tallinn. His parents live permanently in a village outside the city, in their wooden house. Real estate objects in Estonia are not taxed, neither houses nor apartments. But land tax is paid by all homeowners. In multi-storey buildings, so-called "ideal parts" are assigned to all apartments. It is about land plots into which all the land located under this building is divided. In proportion to the area of ​​the apartment, taxes are charged on the land. The owners of private houses, accordingly, pay for their land plot in full.

The rate for this tax is set by local authorities. It is different in each region. The amount of the tax can be in the range from 0.1 to 2.5 percent of the cadastral value of the land plot for the year. On agricultural plots, this tax ranges from 0.1 to 2.0 percent per year. In Tallinn and Pärnu, we have a land tax of 1.5 percent. In Tartu, 1 percent is charged.

Land tax is charged to apartment owners in the amount of about 30 euros per year, owners of plots of ten acres are charged 190 euros annually. They pay taxes once a year, but if the amount is more than 64 euros, then the payment can be divided into two stages. If the payment is delayed, a penalty interest of 0.06% is charged for each day. During the year, it runs up 22%. But in Estonia it is better not to joke with taxes. They are not that big, so it's best to enter them on time. By the way, in North-East Estonia the tax on apartments is so insignificant that local authorities it is not credited at all.

Utility bills in Estonia are quite high. In the same North-East Estonia, apartment owners pay for square meter area every month 0.3 euros. If there is central heating, then during the heating season, an accrual is made from 2 to 2.5 euros per square meter. Electricity in Estonia costs 0.1 euro per kilowatt / hour. If you add up all these payments, then you have to pay up to 120 euros every month for an apartment in winter. And in modern cottages, equipped with everything you need, for example, underground parking, alarms, security, electric gates, you have to pay 500 euros, and even more, every month.

The amount of payment for utilities in Estonia depends not only on how many residents are registered in the apartment. The compulsory payment includes the area of ​​housing, it depends on the location of the apartment or house, and individual meters are installed for water, electricity and gas. Heating is paid only during the heating season.

Residents of all houses in Estonia organize owners' associations or entrust a management company with household needs, which monitors the condition of elevators, roofs, garbage chutes, electricity, sewage and so on. Homeowners conclude an agreement with the management company.

It is very comfortable. For example, when we go on a business trip or vacation, we leave a set of keys from the apartment to the chosen head of the house. You can also order during this period of our absence to clean the apartment or dust and water the flowers. Then the management company includes the amount for the work performed in its invoice. The amount of the account is influenced by the volume of services performed. If a foreign citizen owns real estate in Estonia, he can remotely pay utility bills and taxes. For these purposes, he must open an account with the bank in which transactions are made to pay these utility and tax bills.

the cost of living

Estonia is said to be the poorest country in the European Union. In 2011, the average salary was only 700 euros. But in reality, many in Estonia do not receive this money either. According to the authorities, 16 percent live below the poverty line, and there are many unemployed in the country. In the same 2011, every tenth able-bodied citizen did not have an official job. This is 66 thousand people.

Prices for services and goods depend on these factors. When Estonia switched to the euro in early 2011, the cost of food immediately jumped, but nevertheless, it is still 20 percent lower on average than in other EU countries.

Here are the prices for the goods that I recorded in the Maxim trading network.

• Young potatoes - 1 euro per kilogram.
• Chicken eggs - for a dozen 0.7 euros.
• Semi-smoked sausage loaf (250 grams) - 1.2 euros.
• 500 grams of pork sausages - 1.8 euros.
• One kg of chilled pork tenderloin - 7 euros.
• Hake (carcass), - 1 kg 4.2 euros.
• 500 grams of pasta - 0.9 euros.
• 800 grams of rice - 1.6 euros.
• 250 grams of Truffles sweets - 2.4 euros.
• A bag of Lace chips - 1.2 euros.
• A loaf of black bread with seeds - 0.7 euros.
• A bottle of Italian table wine - 3.3 euros.
• A bottle of Canadian whiskey - 8.3 euros.

The cost of a public transport ticket differs depending on where you bought it. At the kiosk 1 euro, from the driver 1.6 euro. In Tallinn, there are hourly and day passes, which give you the right to board any city transport. For an hour of travel, you have to pay 0.96 euros, for a day - 4.47 euros, for three days - 7.35 euros.

A popular service in Estonia is car rental. Daily rental costs an average of 25 to 35 euros. If you come to Estonia by car or rent one, do not forget that there is a charge for parking in the center of Tallinn and the Old Town. You will also have to pay for parking in the seaside area called Pirita.

To pay for parking there are special parking machines and parking service workers. If you leave your car for an hour in the center of Tallinn, you will have to fork out for 3 euros, and an hour parking in the Old Town will cost 4.6 euros. If you leave for no more than fifteen minutes, you will not be charged. For this, cars are equipped with special clocks that indicate the time when the car was parked. You can also write exact time on a piece of paper and stick it under the wiper on your windshield.

A98 gasoline, which is traded by the Norwegian state-owned company, costs more than 1.3 euros in Tallinn. This is a historical maximum in the Estonian market. A95 gasoline costs motorists 1.26 euros and more.

I use mobile communication from the operator TELE2. This operator has a special conversational SIM card by which I can call both within Estonia and to Russia, to my parents and friends. A minute of conversation with Volgograd costs me 0.16 euros, and if I call my husband, who also has TELE2, then this call is free, and negotiations within Estonia with subscribers of other operators, for example, EMT, per minute of conversation cost 0.1 euros ...

You can go to the Internet in many places: in libraries, at post offices. There are free zones that can be found in unexpected places: on the beach, in a park, in a town square, in a stadium or in a concert hall.

Renting out apartments and houses

All homeowners can rent it out. Either independently or with the help of a real estate company. Although landlords do not receive a good income. There is a crisis in this service in Estonia, as the supply far exceeds the demand. If you're lucky, you can rent an apartment somewhere on the periphery without paying rent, you will have to pay only for utilities. Apartments in the center of Tallinn and in Tartu, which is considered the student capital of Estonia, are in great demand. Pärnu is also popular during the spa season.

Property value

On average, the cost of housing in Estonia is about 800 euros per square meter. This value fluctuates little, and there is no upward or downward trend. Is that in Tallinn the price of housing has grown by 5-6 percent. This situation arose due to the stable supply of apartments on the market. The number of offers ranges from 19,500 to 21,000 apartments.

Some information for tourists

A hotel in Tallinn will cost from 25 to 30 euros per day, lunch at an average restaurant is 10 euros, and you can leave from 10 to 20 euros in souvenir shops, plus the purchase of a day pass. So you have to pledge from 70 to 100 euros per day.

Many people are mistaken about amber. Let me remind you that it is not in Estonia, and almost all souvenirs are made in Finland (forks, wooden spoons, mugs).

If you buy a souvenir in the Old City, you will pay twice as much. Only knitted items are worth buying there.

By the way, a lot of people come from Finland to Estonia on weekends for shopping. This speaks volumes. All major shopping centers are open seven days a week.

Antiques, icons, furniture, jewelry, books, alcohol, textiles, handicrafts made of wood are brought from Estonia.

Parking in shopping centers is free, currency exchange offices and children's playrooms are everywhere.

Estonia has what to see and what to buy. And in general - this small hospitable country has already become a second home for me. I am going to give birth to children here and to instill in them the foundations of European culture. And I'm not going to forget about my native Volgograd, especially since my parents and friends live there.