Estonian Russophone Identity in 1995

Abstract

In 1995, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Estonia regained independence, the dominant identity discourse among Estonian Russophones centred on the question of belonging. The earlier adoption of citizenship laws and the beginning of the negotiations for Estonia’s accession to the European Union have also led local Russophones to contest the Estonian authorities’ decisions regarding ethnic minorities. Those decisions were viewed as discriminatory against minority rights. While Estonia’s trajectory towards (re-)building the state was supported by many, and Estonian Russophones expressed loyalty to the country and Estonian nationhood, the creation of a nation-state where ethnic Estonians enjoyed more privileges than non-Estonians was contested. The main challenge was seen as the lack of unity both among Estonian Russophones themselves and between Estonian Russophones and Estonian elites. In their competing discourses, Estonian Russophones sought to position their identity in relation to, and articulate their perspective on, the Estonian national identity.