The Estonian authorities temporarily closed a section of the road in the Värska–Saatse area on the night of October 11, after border guards noticed unusual activities of military units on the Russian side of the border.
The road that passes through the area known as the “Saatse Boot” will remain closed until October 14, reports the public television ERR, citing the Estonian Police and Border Guard. The closure affects locals who are forced to use detour routes of several kilometers, and public transportation needs to be reorganized.
“We saw various armed groups moving at the border and in its immediate vicinity. From the uniform, it was clear that they were not border guards. Starting at 3 in the morning, our patrols observed how these groups approached the road that crosses the Saatse Saap area, and at one point they lined up perpendicular to the road. It was an obviously dangerous situation for us,” said Meelis Saarepuu, head of the Border Administration in the Southern Prefecture.
According to him, the Estonian authorities asked for explanations from the Russian side, but the answer received was that it was about “usual operations”. “It was a dangerous situation, and we had to make the decision to temporarily close the road,” added Meelis Saarepuu.
Constant risk
The “Saatse Boot” area represents a rare geographical peculiarity: a portion of Russian territory that penetrates deep into the Estonian municipality of Setomaa and cuts the road between two Estonian villages. This anomaly dates back to the post-war period, when, after the re-conquest of Estonia by the Soviet Union in 1944, the borders between the Russian and Estonian republics were redrawn.
After gaining independence in 1991, Estonia found itself with a piece of Russian territory – just over a square kilometer – on the only direct road between two localities. Moscow subsequently allowed passage through the area, but with restrictions: drivers must remain in vehicles and are not allowed to stop.
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