Just another case of blind idiocy to the max! Kaliningrad is economically doing very well thank you; just look at last year's figures for tourism. In fact to take it one step further, Estonia is as of this year on a decline in its tourism, and it looks like some serious work will have to be done in order to attempt to get out of this slump.

The place you are thinking of is Ivangorod (Jaanilinn)-that is one hell of a long way away from Kaliningrad (Königsberg)!!!

You should know better than me that you can´'t even answer your own question, because the new law in fact makes it possible in every way for more Russians to emigrate here than was possible during the Soviet occupation. The fact that you are afraid to admit this clearly shows that either you are bluffing, or you simply don't understand the consequences of the new law. Sounds like yet another one of Siim Kallas' useful idiots who took his line about the total and continuing independence of Estonia as being something not worth standing in favour of, and voted YES to the admission into the EU.

if you actually did YOUR homework better-or, an improvement on that; actually lived in Estonia, then you would be much more careful about what you believed to be happening with regard to the Estonian economy. It is a known fact that Estonia has reached it's peak economically, and we are in a dire position of lagging behind the rest of Europe with regard to product quality v's wages. So much so that Estonia is bleeding terribly over labour skills moving abroad. This has hit hardest in the building industry. I'm not at all surprised if you come up with some other ridiculous suggestion about me not knowing what I am saying, but that can be put down to the fact that you just aren't up on things Estonian. Pity really.

On your way to Russia (specifically Kaliningrad) to get away from Russians (in Estonia), will you stop by the Estonian Ministry of Finance to drop off your "known fact" about the Estonian economy (that is "known" only by you)? Be a decent guy and do it. They could use the info and, besides, it's not far from some good spots for hitch-hiking.

Thank you all for your concern about my move to Kaliningrad. It won't be one to be done in the imminent future, but "shopping around Europe" as Estonians are doing more and more of these days, then you could do worse than look past places such as Serbia (the fastest growing economy in Eastern Europe) and Estonia's favourite rival Slovenia. Kaliningrad, surprisingly, has, contrary to the lies recorded in this commentary section, is doing very well indeed! Of course my critics know full well that anything portrayed in the negative will draw much more interest than the positive I have and will continue to portray in the future. In fact, I really don't understand why so many Canadian-Estonians of the younger generation have become so thoroughly pessimistic about their politics, in spite of their personal living standards and conditions implying the complete opposite. Perhaps their hearts are dry as an old bone, and the decaying process is working a lot faster in their case than it should. Better luck in the future.

I am not sure about the status of others that you mention here, and certainly I am highly sceptical about just how much you actually know and are interested in things Estonian, but Peeter's comments are some of the most intelligent thoughts that have come this paper's way! I know I can say that with confidence, because he doesn't have a swollen head like you, and he always does his homework before he comments about anything. I have NEVER read anything constructive from you, Toomas-all you see to indulge in is criticizing others. And if you really are a leader of our community, then that should surprise me all the less, since you have an uncanny ability to rub other people up the wrong way. Pity really.

I'd say this is a slight on Maxim. A diversionary tactic, to call upon the editor as if the editor automatically would agree with what Toomas thinks. it simply makes me even more suspicious of Toomas and his underhanded ways.

Thanks.
It's hard to understand why Maxim would state the opposite.

Why are so many of the comments on this board so blindly patriotic? When did reality become treasonous?
Pessimism about growth and labour shortages promote healthy economic policies and help ensure future growth. Your premise would suggest that any economist who issues negative projections should be dismissed and hung.

Sounds an awful lot like Soviet era economic policy to me. . . . Oh yeah, and next time you quote something, you may want to consider linking to an article that's attributed to someone or at least not from a site representing the industry in question.

What's "blindly patriotic" about specific references to authoritative sources attesting to growth in Estonia's economy at this time?