The peace treaty signed in Tartu was the first major achievement in the foreign relations of the young Estonian state. The treaty determined Estonia’s eastern border and the Soviet Russia thereby recognised in perpetuity the independence of the Republic of Estonia. It also opened the way for Estonia to be recognised internationally as an independent state. The instruments of ratification of the treaty were exchanged in Moscow on 30 March 1920 and the treaty entered into force on that day.

According to the Tartu Peace Treaty, the Estonian Repatriation Commission began operations on 12 May 1920, with departments in Moscow, Saint Petersburg, and Omsk. The treaty stipulated that Estonians were able to repatriate to their homeland and people of other nationalities living in Estonia were able to repatriate to Russia. 37 578 people repatriated to Estonia.

The Legation of the Republic of Estonia in Moscow was one of the first embassies in Soviet Russia and its new capital. Following the Red coup d’état, Russia’s allies in the First World War had severed diplomatic relations with it.

Two buildings in the quarter between the Maly Kislovsky and Kalashnyi alleys were given to the Estonian foreign mission, and the legation opted for the smaller one (the buildings were side by side) because it was also smaller than the Repatriation Commission that had operated in Moscow up to that point. As the Legation started working, the 80-member Repatriation Commission quickly shrank. Some of the people who worked there were employed in the Legation, some were dismissed from office, and in 1922, the Legation moved to a larger building where the Estonian Embassy operates today.

The Legation building was built in 1903 after a design by architect Alexey Shcheglov as a city manor in early art nouveau style. The house was commissioned by the renowned publisher and bookseller Vladimir Dumnov.

His activities in Estonia are mainly related to the Tartu Peace Treaty and the establishment of subsequent diplomatic relations. In 1920, Litvinov was appointed the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Russian SFSR to Estonia. Litvinov presented his credentials on 18 January 1921, when he officially took office as the representative of Soviet Russia in Estonia. On 12 September 1921, he was recalled from Estonia to his homeland.
The subsequent Soviet envoys in Estonia were: Leonid Stark (1923-1924), Mikhail Kobetski (1924), Adolf Petrovsky (1924-1930), Aleksand Gambarov (Chargé d’Affaires, 1926-1927), Fyodor Raskolnikov (1930-1933), Alexei Ustinov (1934-1937), Kuzma Nikitin (1937-1940), and Vladimir Bochkaryov (1940).

Vares had a diverse career. From 1906 he worked in the Russian Ministry of Finance, including as a member of the Supervisory Board of the Peasant’s Land Bank in Riga and Saint Petersburg. From 1914 to 1917, Vares was a member of the Council of the Minister of Finance and an assistant to the Head of the General Administration of Indirect Taxes. In March 1917, Vares returned to Estonia, where he was the Minister of Finance from July to October 1920. Vares served as Envoy to Moscow from 14 February 1921 to 21 June 1922. Later, Vares was a member of the Riigikogu and the Director of Eesti Pank until his death in 1925.

He worked as a lawyer in Tallinn. In 1919, Birk was the chairman of the Estonian-Russian peace negotiations delegation in Pihkva. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1919 to 1920. From 1 June 1922 to 18 June 1926, Birk served as Envoy to the Soviet Union (with a short interruption, while Birk was Foreign Minister from October to November 1925). He was removed from the post ‘due to non-compliance with the orders of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.’ After his recall and trial, where he was accused of passing secret messages to the Soviet Union, Birk withdrew from public life. Birk was arrested by the Soviet authorities on 14 June 1941 in Tallinn and sentenced to death. He died in jail in Russia.

Heinrich Laretei was born on 4 January in Õisu, Viljandi County. He studied commerce at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tartu. In 1913, Laretei volunteered for the Russian army and participated in the First World War. He later fought in the War of Independence and was placed in reserve in August 1920. He worked in the Postimees and Vaba Eesti newspapers as an editor. From 1925 to 1926 he was Minister of Agriculture and the Interior. From 1926 to 1928, Laretei was the Estonian Envoy to the Soviet Union. Laretei’s career continued in the foreign service and during the Soviet occupation, Laretei was Estonia’s Envoy to Sweden, Denmark and Norway, based in Stockholm, where he remained in exile and where he died on 3 April 1973.

From 1918 to 1921, he was a member of the Pihkva and Tartu peace delegations and Chairman of the Peace Treaty Ratification Committee. From 1 May 1928, Seljamaa was the Estonian Envoy to Soviet Russia until taking office as an assistant to the Estonian Foreign Minister on 1 August 1933. On 21 October 1933, Julius Seljamaa became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Seljamaa died in 1936.

Until 1920 he was a member of the board of Tofer department store in Russia. Tofer began his diplomatic career in 1921, when he was appointed Deputy Consul at the Estonian Legation in Berlin. Between 1933 and 1936, Tofer served as Envoy to Soviet Russia. From 1939 to 1940, Tofer was an assistant to the Estonian Foreign Minister. Karl Tofer was arrested in 1941 and he died in a Soviet prison camp.

He worked as a teacher and pursued a military career, which included recording military history and acting as the chief editor of the manuscript of The History of the Estonian War of Independence. From 1 September 1936 to 25 August 1937, Traksmaa served as Estonia’s Envoy to Soviet Russia. He was arrested in 1941 and sentenced to death, and died in a prison camp in Russia.

Until 1936, Rei was a barrister and in 1927 he defended Ado Birk, who had gotten in trouble with the NKVD while serving as Envoy in Moscow. Rei served as Envoy to Moscow from 1938 to 1940. After the Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940, Rei fled to Sweden via Riga, where he spent the rest of his life, and served as Prime Minister of the government-in-exile from 1945 until his death in 1963 in Stockholm.

In the secret supplementary protocol of the treaty, Eastern Europe was divided between them: Berlin received western Poland and Lithuania (the latter, however, was later assigned to the Soviet Union by a subsequent supplementary agreement), while Moscow got Finland, Estonia, Latvia, eastern Poland, and Bessarabia. Within a few days, information about the secret protocol reached the Estonian authorities, but it was not made public. The pact paved the way for the occupation and annexation of the Republic of Estonia.

The Bases Treaty was imposed on Estonia under direct threat of war. The Estonian government decided to sign the treaty in order to avoid war and preserve independence, although this meant significant concessions and caused fear and resentment among the population. The Bases Treaty had far-reaching consequences for the independence and sovereignty of the country. The Republic of Estonia tried to implement the Bases Treaty under difficult circumstances, making concessions to avoid a direct military conflict, but eventually it still led to the occupation of the country.

At the Moscow train station, honorary companies were lined up, flags were flown, the military orchestra played an honorary march. He met Joseph Stalin and Marshal Kliment Voroshilov. Foreign Minister Vyacheslav Molotov, Anastas Mikoyan, and Marshals Kliment Voroshilov and Semyon Budyonny visited the Estonian Legation.

The puppet government of Johannes Vares-Barbarus was formed, after which the staged ‘elections’ to the Chamber of Deputies were organised in July. The new Chamber of Deputies ‘applied’ for Estonia’s membership in the USSR, and on 6 August it was formally finalised.
Sovietisation and the persecution of Estonian-minded people began immediately on a mass scale. Civil society and free organisations were eliminated; banks, larger companies and lands were nationalised. National symbols were banned and extensive propaganda and ideological pressure began.
In 1940, President Konstantin Päts and Commander-in-Chief General Johan Laidoner were arrested, repressed and deported along with their families. President Päts died in 1956 at a psychoneurological hospital in Burashevo and General Laidoner died in prison in the city of Vladimir in 1953.
One of the most tragic events of the occupation was the deportation of June 1941, when more than 10 000 people were deported to Siberia. This was followed by mass arrests and executions, which ended only in July of the same year with the invasion of German troops.
The consequences of the first Soviet occupation were devastating for Estonia. Estonia lost about a quarter of its population due to deportations, refugees, and executions. Nationalisations and warfare caused great economic damage. The destruction of the social structure and social order and the creation of a climate of fear had a particularly brutal impact, affecting the lives of Estonians for decades to come.
Opening session of the Chamber of Deputies elected under the occupation. At the meeting the following day, a decision on accession to the Soviet Union was taken.

Most of the diplomats who had worked at the Legation and returned home were arrested, repressed and deported to Russia, where many died.
Unlike legations, the permanent representations of the Councils of Ministers of the so-called Soviet republics to the Council of Ministers of the USSR did not perform diplomatic functions; above all, they were the formal Moscow residences of the party leaders of the Soviet republics. Based on these functions, an administrative block with a hotel, a canteen and a number of office spaces were added to the historical building of the Legation.

The Soviet power structures established in 1940 and 1941 were immediately restored and a new wave of Sovietisation began. The end of the war led to a mass flight – fearing repressions and deportations, over 70 000 Estonians fled to the West. These fears proved to be justified, as in March 1949, the Soviet authorities carried out the March deportations, during which more than 20 000 people, mainly farm families, were deported to Siberia. At the same time, forced collectivisation was carried out, destroying traditional Estonian agriculture. In the cities, the nationalisation of industry continued and extensive industrialisation began, accompanied by the massive import of foreign labour from other republics of the Soviet Union.
After Stalin’s death in 1953, the terror eased somewhat, and many deportees were able to return to Estonia in the late 1950s. However, a systematic policy of Russification, particularly in the fields of education and culture, continued. The economy was dominated by the planned economy, which led to a shortage of goods.

In the second half of the 1980s, when perestroika began in the Soviet Union, the national movement in Estonia became more active. Night song festivals and plenums of creative associations were held and national organisations emerged. In 1988, the Popular Front was founded and the so-called Singing Revolution began. Gradually, the national symbols of Estonia were restored and greater independence was demanded. The Baltic Way of 1989 demonstrated the unity of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians in their efforts to achieve independence.

August 1991 was a turning point when Estonia declared its full independence during the attempted coup in Moscow. The Soviet Union recognised Estonia’s independence on 6 September 1991, ending almost half a century of occupation. During this period, Estonia’s population and society had changed significantly – the share of Estonians in the population fell to less than two-thirds due to immigration, traditional social structures were broken down, and the economy needed thorough restructuring. Nevertheless, the Estonian language and culture and a vibrant national identity were preserved, which meant that after the restoration of independence, it was possible to quickly start building a democratic state.

This brought the Soviet-occupied Baltic States back to the consciousness of the free world. An important milestone in this process was the 1983 resolution of the European Parliament based on the Baltic Appeal, which called on the UN and the countries of the European Union to help restore the independence of the Baltic States. Mart Niklus, Enn Tarto, Erik Udam, Endel Ratas, Jüri Kukk, Viktor Niitsoo, Veljo Kalep, and Tiit Madisson signed the appeal on behalf of Estonia. A joint public letter from the citizens of the three Baltic States called for the disclosure of the secret protocol of the MRP.

All of this, in turn, inspired the refugees from the Baltic States and the diplomats who had remained in the free world to organise political actions explaining the situation in occupied Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in their countries of residence, and to draw the attention of the public to the aspirations for freedom in their homeland.

The book “Second Coming: Foreign Representations of Estonia After the Restoration of Independence”, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2003, explores the story of how the Embassy was reopened.

Subsequently, Russia was represented in Estonia by ambassadors Alexei Glukhov (1997-2000), Konstantin Provalov (2001-2006), Nikolai Uspensky (2006-2010), Yuri Merzlyakov (2010-2015), Aleksandr Petrov (2015-2021), and Vladimir Lipayev (2022-2023).

On 7 August 1992, the Saint Petersburg City Government, based on local demand, announced that Estonian visas would be issued once a week, on Saturdays, in Smolny. In fact, the issuing of visas had already begun on 1 August 1992, when the consular officials of the Estonian Embassy in Moscow visited Saint Petersburg to issue visas. On 3 March 1993, an affirmative reply was finally received from Moscow to the note sent by Estonia on 14 July 1992. The Consulate General started operating at Bolshaya Monetnaya 14, which Estonia could rent on preferential terms for 49 years. Due to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Estonia closed the Consulate General in Saint Petersburg and the Pskov Office as of 5 May 2022. This follows the announcement by the Russian Foreign Ministry that Russia would close its consulates in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Estonia authorised the opening of the Consulate General with a note sent on 12 August 1993. The Russian Consulate General was allocated premises at E Vilde 8 in Narva. Russia closed its Consulate General in Narva in May 2022.

The negotiations lasted a total of five hours and ended with the signing of two important agreements (known as the July agreements). The agreements concerned the withdrawal of the Russian armed forces and social guarantees for Russian military pensioners in Estonia. It was agreed that Russian troops would have to leave Estonia by 31 August 1994.

The office was closed on 5 May 2022. This was preceded by Estonia’s decision to close the Russian Consulate General in Narva and the Office of the Consular Department in Tartu in April 2022, to which Russia responded in turn by closing the Estonian consular representations in Saint Petersburg and Pskov.

Although Estonia regained its independence in August 1991, Russian troops initially remained in Estonia. Their withdrawal was the subject of lengthy and difficult negotiations, culminating in an agreement between Presidents Lennart Meri and Boris Yeltsin in July 1994, which provided for the complete withdrawal of troops by 31 August 1994.

The withdrawal of troops was a large-scale operation. More than 40,000 Russian soldiers and their family members left Estonia. Russian forces had held about 570 military sites, including airfields, missile bases, military campuses, and training areas. The condition of many of these sites posed an environmental hazard and later required thorough purging.
The situation was particularly complicated in Paldiski, where the Soviet Navy’s nuclear submarine training centre with two nuclear reactors was located. The issue of dismantling and disengagement of the reactors was resolved by a separate agreement and this process continued a year after the departure of the remaining troops.

The success of the negotiations was largely achieved with international support. The USA and other Western countries put pressure on Russia to meet the agreed deadlines and also supported Estonia financially in the restoration of abandoned military sites. The personal involvement of US President Bill Clinton in the negotiations was also crucial.

The last Russian troops left Paldiski on 31 August 1994, after which the Estonian flag was hoisted there. This event symbolically marked the actual end of foreign rule. The withdrawal of troops allowed Estonia to start building its defence forces and developing an independent security policy.

Estonia was represented by Minister of Defence Andrus Öövel, historian Rein Helme, author of the memorial plaque Mati Karmin, and historian Peep Pillak. Ambassador Mart Helme and diplomats from the Embassy attended.

During the visit, the Patriarch met with President Arnold Rüütel, who awarded him the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, First Class.

Alexy II, born Alexei Rüdiger in Tallinn, maintained his ties with Estonia and his visit marked an important step in the restoration of relations between the two countries after the restoration of Estonia’s independence.

On 2 April 2004, Putin (in negotiations with German Chancellor Schröder) noted that, ‘Russia has no concerns about the expansion of NATO [the accession of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to NATO] from the standpoint of ensuring security, but Russia will organise its military policies accordingly in connection with NATO nearing its borders.’

The Riigikogu ratified the treaty on 20 June 2005, adding a preamble to the Act on Ratification of the Border Treaty that referred to the continued validity of the Tartu Peace Treaty. Russia reacted negatively and withdrew its signature from the treaty, which is why it was not ratified by the Russian parliament. A new attempt to conclude the border treaty was made in 2014, but it is yet to take force.

The meeting with President Dmitry Medvedev covered topical political and cultural issues. During his visit, President Ilves emphasised the need for frank and constructive dialogue between the two countries.

The Estonian state allocated 3.1 million kroons to the project to support facade works and preserve the church for the Estonian congregation. In the course of the restoration, thorough restoration work was carried out, which preserved the historical value of the church and ensured that the building corresponded to the needs of the congregation. The restored church was formally opened by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on 20 February 2011.

St. John’s Church in Saint Petersburg also played an important role in Estonia’s independence. In March 1917, a procession began from in front of the church, attended by nearly 40 000 people who demanded autonomy for Estonia. Achieving autonomy was an important milestone on the way to the creation of our own state.

A joint visit was made to the mausoleum of Barclay de Tolly in Jõgeveste, the Kuperjanov Battalion in Võru, the Koidula border crossing, and the Pskov Air Assault Division in Russia. The Estonian delegation included Marko Mihkelson, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Vladimir Velman, and Mati Raidma. The Russian delegation comprised Mikhail Margelov, Valeri Ponomaryov, and Vladimir Torlopov. The meetings covered bilateral cooperation and issues related to the border treaty, as well as joint transport and energy projects.

The Russian delegation also included Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Ziyad Sabsabi and Committee members Anatoli Lisitsyn and Ahmet Palankoyev. They met with President of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet, and Chairman of the Riigikogu’s Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson. They mainly discussed the ratification of the border treaties, with both sides expressing hope that the treaties would be ratified in the spring of 2014. They also spoke about practical issues related to regional cooperation, tourism and economic relations.

The Riigikogu delegation included the Chairman of the Estonia-Russia Parliamentary Group Igor Gräzin (Reform Party), Deputy Chairman Olga Ivanova (Centre Party), Viktoria Ladõnskaja (Pro Patria and Res Publica Union) and Andres Ammas (Free Party). The delegation was received by the Estonian Friendship Group of the Russian State Duma. A meeting was also held with Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the International Relations Committee of the Russian State Duma, and among other topics, the issue of the ratification of border treaties was discussed.

The greatest emphasis was placed on cultural and economic co-operation, people-to-people relations, ties with Estonian communities in Russia and Russian civil society. The centenary of the Republic of Estonia was celebrated in Saint Petersburg, Moscow, and Krasnoyarsk. Political engagement with Russia was guided by the five principles of the European Union agreed after the start of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine in 2014.

At the meeting, in addition to discussing bilateral economic relations, President Kaljulaid also raised the issues of Georgia and Ukraine.