The search for an integration model for Estonia

Ahto Lobyakas approves of the way the Estonian government dealt with the bronze statue dispute, but points out that the fundamental problem of coexistence with the Russian minority in Estonia remains unsolved: "It's obvious that the model of 'integration by granting citizenship' doesn't work. The current model is outdated and the Russian-speaking community has no political representation. But in spite of this we must begin a genuine dialogue, and this can only be done with people who truly represent their group. In Estonia you now have a situation in which the Russian-speaking politicians in the Estonian-speaking political parties don't really represent their ethnic group and the government has no one else to talk to. We must break this vicious circle."

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