RMK to begin cleanup for the second stage of border building  15.09

Works on the construction of the Estonian-Russian border begun last year and are currently underway, concentrated on the first phase of the project; the 23.5 kilometres stretching between the congregation point of Estonia, Latvia and Russia and Luhamaa. All necessary access routes have been completed, along with majority of the delay fencing and plank roads that allow border guards to easily patrol the swampy area.

Map: RMK
The border running between Tserebi and Võmmorski villages, where cleanup has already begun.

On 15 September, the State Forest Management Centre (RMK) began clearing the land in the second stage of the border that lays between Tserebi and Võmmorski villages. These preparations are necessary for the border construction to continue on schedule. The RMK will clear the forest on the Estonian side of the border, collect the logs and organise the removal of shrubbery and stumps. This work will be done by RMK’s contractual partners.

Kristo Kokk, Region Manager for the RMK’s South-East region, said that this particular patch of land is home to both tall forests and shrubbery. “On the other hand, the border line now cuts through grasslands and meadows, and – unlike in the first stage of the construction – we no longer have large bodies of water obstructing our work,” said Kokk. RMK plans to finish clearing the area by January of next year.

The amount of potential wood gain from the second-stage cleanup efforts is as of yet unclear. “In any case, we will use this wood as we would any other material. We assume that the revenue made from selling the wood will offset the cost of the clearing efforts,” said Kokk.

Egert Belitšev, head of the border guard department of the Estonian Police and Boarder Guard Board said that erecting a safe and modern border will benefit the entire country and its residents. “We wish to thank all the land owners for their understanding and quick decision making that helped us get the project off the ground. Our collaboration efforts have us moving towards a future where Estonia has a strong border that will ensure the safety of our country from Setomaa to Saaremaa,” said Belitšev.

Further information:
Kristo Kokk
Region Manager for the RMK’s South-East region
+372 503 6887