Feanor,
I agree there's a cut off. To me, those ethnic Russians in Estonia etc.have to make up their minds whether they want to be citizens of the countries they now live in, & take part in their politics (& in tow, they're numerous enough to be politically important, if they engage), or move out.
They want to take part in the politics of the region, but to allow that in a productive manner, at this point, requires a move from the Estonian government. It needs to indicate that it is willing to deal with it's Russian minority as an ethnic minority, not simply as so many bodies to be assimilated individually. This doesn't mean a silly Russia-inspired version of autonomy, but a moderate autonomy (the kind say an autonomous republic in Russia has, where they can govern local matters, and possibly given Russian regional status (the ability to apply for say, a permit to own a large dog, or build a small fence, in Russian).
A move of that sort would immediately split the Russian minority from the Russian government. To the Russian government an autonomy of that sort is useless, because it doesn't allow them to split Estonia on key issues, or to pressure the Estonian government on major foreign policy issues. On the other hand it would appease the locals, giving them a chance to participate without having to abandon their culture or heritage. And ultimately it would give them a way to learn how to participate in a liberal democracy, from the grass-roots level.
I've met some of those Russians. I remember one in Riga whose father stopped talking to him when he applied for Latvian citizenship. A few years later, they were communicating indirectly, via his mother, which he said was a big improvement from the initial complete cessation of contact. He saw Latvia as his home (he'd grown up there, I think he was born there), & sympathised with the Latvian desire for independence, within its pre-war borders. He was content to be a Russian-Latvian, a Latvian citizen of Russian ancestry. Many felt the same, as the indepdendence referendum showed. But some regarded him as a traitor.
Of course there is an older generation that doesn't want to let go. Which is why you need a gesture. To some extent this is also a matter of time. If Estonia can include the next generation of Russians in their domestic politics, then the older generation will die (eventually but surely), and the problem will be resolved. If on the other hand they create a new generation of discontents, then the problems becomes cyclical, institutionalized. You have a permanent, festering sore of unhappy Russians in the east. An easy situation for Russia to move in on.
Hell the referendum in Crimea was rigged, but if it wasn't, what do you think the outcome would have been?
Prime example of idiotic policy by an western-leaning government.
I've seen websites, such as that of one Estonian-Russian group which demanded an autonomous Russian region within Estonia for ethnic Russians, in one contiguous area. It had about as many ethnic Estonians as ethnic Russians, & the powers demanded for it made it effectively independent.
Yes but how much real support do proposals of that sort really have? It's a provocatory position that polarizes the discourse surrounding the issue. Realistically an offer, by the Estonian government, directly to their Russian minority, an offer of compromise bypassing Putin and Co. would go a very long way towards resolving the issue, and marginalizing those with an unconstructive position.
What do you expect the Balts to do with such people? Especially now that they have the examples of Crimea, Luhansk, & Donetsk?
Learn from the mistakes of the Kiev government, instead of repeating them.
Give up territories which within living memory had a majority of their own nationality?
Honestly that might be one solution. If they're willing to do it, it would negate the issue quite nicely. Especially considering how economic development is geographically distributed in the Baltics
.
Try to deal with people who demand the dismemberment of their states, & the subjection of a large number or their people to Russian rule - again?
Not their people, the Russian minorities to Russian rule. But anyways, see above. A gesture of compromise towards their Russian minority by Kiev in March '14 would have likely prevented the war entirely.
Ignore Russian manoeuvres on their borders, infringements of their airspace, threats, cyber attacks, & encouragement (including financial support) of the extremists within their Russian minorities?
Or respond in kind. Instead of responding with Nazi parades, and insulting statements. Those do nothing to resolve the issue, and instead antagonize not only rank and file Russians in Russia, but also rank and file Russians in Estonia. NATO exercises in the Baltics seem to have surprisingly little effect on the Russian public, who simply ignore them. But they certainly send a message to Russian political leadership; NATO is not dead, NATO is not weak, and NATO will not surrender the Baltics.
