Estonian Customs Blocked Ton of Russian Propaganda at EU Border on June 6
On June 6, Estonian customs blocked the import of 1465 kg of printed materials from Russia into the EU due to propaganda narratives. The cargo was transiting to Finland. This is part of Estonia's consistent efforts against the spread of hostile propaganda and symbols.
The Estonian Tax and Customs Board (MTA) reported blocking the import of over a ton of printed materials from Russia into the European Union. The reason was a suspicion of sanctions violation, as part of the cargo contained Russian propaganda narratives about the war in Ukraine.
The incident occurred on June 6, when a truck transiting from Russia to Finland arrived at the Koidula customs point. The cargo contained 1465 kilograms of printed publications, including newspapers. After the goods were sent for customs inspection, customs officers found that some newspapers contained pro-Kremlin narratives.
MTA representatives stated: «Not all newspapers contain only news. Sometimes pro-Kremlin narratives are spread along with them». This is not the first time Estonia has taken measures against the dissemination of hostile propaganda. Previously, Estonian border guards denied entry to a German citizen who was transporting calendars with images of Vladimir Putin. In April 2023, Estonian President Alar Karis approved a law prohibiting the display of hostile symbols, such as the St. George ribbon or the letter Z.