Does the Estonian city of Narva really want to join Russia?

## Summary
https://p.dw.com/p/5BfjS Estonian intelligence services have described rumors of Narva's secession as provocative, and many locals dismiss them as nonsense Image: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/picture alliance Advertisement Looking at an ordinary map of Estonia, Narva is simply another city on the eastern borders of the European Union. The closing of the Bridge of Friendship over the Narva River to vehicles and freight, leaving only pedestrian access, has been an economic blow Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW Are there secessionists in Narva? But that bubble has long since burst." Journalist Roman Vikulov said it's the economy that is making Narva locals leave the city, not Russian propaganda Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW Almost everyone you speak to says life in Estonia is much better than in Russia . Narva city council member Jana Kondrashova believes some locals may have more extremist ideas, but says they're in the minority Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW Jana Kondrashova, the city council's deputy chairperson, sees it a little differently. "There are always going to be people who have a more radical worldview," she admitted. "Of course, we have people like that too but it's not a widespread phenomenon." What does Russia think about Narva?

## Article Content
https://p.dw.com/p/5BfjS
Estonian intelligence services have described rumors of Narva's secession as provocative, and many locals dismiss them as nonsense
Image: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/picture alliance
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Looking at an ordinary map of Estonia, Narva is simply another city on the eastern borders of the European Union. But the city of around 52,000 is more significant than that. Narva, in Estonia's Russian-speaking east, is becoming
a flash point
for debates about European security, identity and the future of the bloc.
Part of the reason for this are calls for the city's secession from Estonia, a member of the EU, on social media and platforms like
Telegram
. These calls advocate for a so-called "People's Republic of Narva" and even include a flag and a coat of arms, ideas that remind observers of pro-Russian propaganda about Crimea in Ukraine.
Estonian intelligence services have described the rumors as provocative, and many locals dismiss them as nonsense.
The closing of the Bridge of Friendship over the Narva River to vehicles and freight, leaving only pedestrian access, has been an economic blow
Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW
Are there secessionists in Narva?
In Narva itself, life goes on as usual. The shop facades are an interesting mix of Soviet-era styles and contemporary European logos but the streets are not crowded today. A cold wind from
Finland
blows across the Narva River. On the other side of the waterway is the Russian city of Ivangorod.
Narva still has
distinct ties to Russia
. Only about 2% of its residents speak Estonian at home. Most speak Russian, and a third of the population holds a Russian passport.
The Russian border is open but can only be crossed during the day, on foot. Cars and buses cannot currently cross the bridge, which is undergoing maintenance until the end of the year. This decision to ban vehicles was made by Russian authorities.
For many of Narva's inhabitants, crossing the bridge, and the border, is a regular part of daily life. Some go shopping, others visit relatives. The fact that ethnic Russians make up the majority in a city
bordering Russia
has led observers to draw parallels to
Donbas
and
Crimea
in Ukraine, and
Transnistria
, which is near Ukraine and
Moldova
. Each of those places are home to locals who do want to join up with Russia.
Important EU connections
But Narva also has strong ties to Europe. It's often described as the city where Europe begins, and many locals are proud of this label.
In September, Europe's largest rare-earth magnet factory opened in Narva. It was funded by the EU and will produce magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and microelectronics. Up until now, most of these magnets have been imported from China so the Narva factory is an important step toward strategic autonomy for the EU.
For all these sorts of reasons, Narva Mayor Katri Raik isn't too worried about any
alleged separatist tendencies
.
"The people of Narva are worried about their city's image," she said. "Such reports give us negative publicity and nobody wants that. Our people love their city and simply don't have time to invent these kinds of stories."
Narva Mayor Katri Raik sees no cause for concern
Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW
On the streets, it's hard to find anybody who wants to talk politics. "I'm not interested in any of that," an elderly passerby told DW. "I've lived in Narva a long time and the city is what it is. It is always going to be my city."
If you ask locals about the idea of a "People's Republic of Narva," most will either say it's fake or a joke.
"Complete nonsense," one local said. "Unimaginable."
"I don't think the residents of Narva would want to be part of Russia. I don't know anyone who would," said another.
'Frustration and insecurity about Narva's future'
Local journalist Roman Vikulov can't imagine there's much support for secession from Estonia. "There are no separatists in Narva," he said.
Vikulov conceded that there may well be people in Narva who don't see many prospects for themselves in
Estonia
. "There's a lot of disappointment and deep depression," he explained. "The mood is bad all over. But it's not aggressive."
People move out of the city because they simply can't see a future for themselves here, he argued, not because they want to join
Russia
or leave Estonia.
They leave due to "frustration and insecurity about Narva's future," he added. "And this is directly related to the situation our eastern neighbor [Russia] is in. For a long time, we had good prospects as a border city. We expected streams of people who would spend their money here. But that bubble has long since burst."
Journalist Roman Vikulov said it's the economy that is making Narva locals leave the city, not Russian propaganda
Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW
Almost everyone you speak to says life in Estonia is much better than in
Russia
. Those short trips across the border make that clear.
One of the examples locals point to is the construction of a promenade alon

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- But the city of around 52,000 is more significant than that.
- Important EU connections But Narva also has strong ties to Europe.
- Up until now, most of these magnets have been imported from China so the Narva factory is an important step toward strategic autonomy for the EU.

### Areas for Consideration
- Our people love their city and simply don't have time to invent these kinds of stories." Narva Mayor Katri Raik sees no cause for concern Image: Denis Kischinewsky/DW On the streets, it's hard to find anybody who wants to talk politics. "I'm not interested in any of that," an elderly passerby told DW. "I've lived in Narva a long time and the city is what it is.

### Implications
- Narva, in Estonia's Russian-speaking east, is becoming a flash point for debates about European security, identity and the future of the bloc.
- It was funded by the EU and will produce magnets for electric vehicles, wind turbines and microelectronics.
- It is always going to be my city." If you ask locals about the idea of a "People's Republic of Narva," most will either say it's fake or a joke. "Complete nonsense," one local said. "Unimaginable." "I don't think the residents of Narva would want to be part of Russia.
- I don't know anyone who would," said another. 'Frustration and insecurity about Narva's future' Local journalist Roman Vikulov can't imagine there's much support for secession from Estonia. "There are no separatists in Narva," he said.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers narva, russian, city topics. Notable strengths include discussion of narva. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1267.