Riga, 22 June 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Estonia will temporarily close its border crossing to Russia in Narva over the weekend.

The police and border protection authority justified the move by saying that border checks on the Russian side had been significantly slowed down.

As a result, people who wanted to cross the border reportedly had to wait for hours on Thursday and Friday to be able to proceed.

Other crossings are not affected by the closure at Narva in Estonia's north-eastern corner, and entry into Estonia is still possible.

According to Estonian reports, long queues formed in Narva for the first time on Thursday. Pictures on the internet showed hundreds of people, some with luggage, waiting at the border, which was closed at night. The city administration set up mobile toilets and distributed bottles of water.

Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets said that there was no precise information as to why the Russian border guards were currently operating very slowly.

Photo: MIA archive