Estonian Interior Ministry proposes extending temporary operating hours of road border checkpoints with Russia indefinitely

TALLINN. July 28 (Interfax) - The Estonian Interior Ministry has submitted a bill for approval proposing to indefinitely extend the temporary 12-hour operating hours of the Koidula, Luhamaa, and Narva-1 road border checkpoints with Russia, the ERR broadcaster reported on Tuesday.

The current temporary restriction, according to which border checkpoints are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., are valid until the end of August.

"The purpose of this restriction was to strengthen border security, improve response capabilities for border incidents, and increase customs controls. These needs have not changed," Interior Minister Igor Taro was quoted as saying in the statement.

He said that there is currently no need to fully close the border, as there is no corresponding threat assessment.

"Our neighbors have made such decisions, but their circumstances were completely different," Taro said.

"We are proposing keeping the border checkpoints closed overnight indefinitely unless and until the need arises to supplement or revise this arrangement in some way," he added.

The total number of border crossings at the Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula road border checkpoints has fallen drastically compared to previous years, the ministry said. Border crossings were down 13% year-on-year from 512,000 to 444,000 in H1 2026.