Kaja Klaas, the Baltic ‘Iron Lady’ who drew Putin’s ire

Europeanist, lawyer and first head of government of Estonia, Kaja Kallas One of the voices that most vigorously defends Ukraine And advocates imposing tough sanctions against Russia. Now Kremlin’s anger has erupted on the ‘Iron Lady’ of the Baltic countries, which has put her on the wanted list.

The 46-year-old Estonian liberal leader is Prime Minister from 2021And over the past two years he has earned the nickname of ‘Iron Lady’ of the region And even from Europe to demand a brutal response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, regardless of retaliation from the Kremlin.

Kallas was born in 1977 in Soviet-occupied Estonia. And grew up in a world that was divided The Berlin Wall.

The Victory Monument in Riga in 2022, which celebrated the Soviet victory, when she was already Prime Minister Nazi Germany, But Latvian authorities considered the composition to be glorifying the Soviet occupation of Latvia.

This caused damage to the Kremlin, as did the demolition of similar monuments in other Baltic countries. Russia’s “hostile actions against historical memory”.

However, he has never proceeded to put a sitting president on the search and capture list, as he has now done with Callas. She has already responded to Russia that she will not let it remain silent And he will continue to firmly defend the security of Ukraine, Europe, and fight against Russian propaganda.

It not only calls for tougher restrictions to Russia by the EU, but it is also one of the largest Defender of Ukraine’s entry into NATO.

With Latvia and Lithuania, your country is also planning to build a joint Baltic Defense Line Three countries border with Russia and Belarus Because of the threat of a possible attack from the Kremlin.

Interestingly, the Estonian leader was under pressure last summer when it emerged that her husband owned shares in a company that continued to do business with Russia while she remained. One of the biggest defenders of tough sanctions against Moscow and military support for Ukraine.

Politician, who since 2018 has also been the leader of the liberal centrist Reform Party, which she joined in 2011. Used to deal with challenges and crises, Not only external, but also internal.

The mother of two sons and a daughter, she resigned in 2022 after dismissing seven ministers from the centre-left Center Party. Controversy over family support policies and then led the way Minority government.

For the past year he has led a coalition executive with the liberal Esti 200 and Social Democrats, whose aims include boosting security and increasing spending. In defense of 3% of GDP over the next four years.

Politician who was a member of the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) between 2011 and 2014, and again between 2019 and 2021, with an intervening period as a European Parliamentarian, she has also worked as a lawyer and partner in two law firms, and was an advisor to the director of law firms. Vanemuine Theatre.

But it seems that he is destined for politics rather than the legal profession. Not in vain, she is the daughter of former Estonian Prime Minister Sim Kallas (2002–2003), who was also Vice-President of the European Commission (EC) and Transport Commissioner.

Kallas, who holds a law degree from the University of Tartu and a master’s degree from the Estonian Business School, has received several awards in recent years, including Order of the Wise Prince Yaroslav of Ukraine, 2nd class, 2023.

Last year she was also honored with the Women in Power Award, which recognizes the work done by women to increase their presence and participation in shaping Europe and its future.