Protests in Tallinn against current shape of Rail Baltic project

Protesters gathered in Tallinn’s Freedom Square on Saturday to express their objection to the Rail Baltic project in its current form. The “line drawn from Tallinn to Pärnu”, in their opinion, is not based on sufficient research, and will destroy wildlife and have too grave an effect on the environment.
The protests began at around noon. According to the organizers, they are not against the railway as such, and also not against a fast connection to the European network, but demand that any decision concerning the future railway’s route be made subject to much more detailed analysis.
Posters carried by the protesters showed the alternative route favored by plenty of Rail Baltic’s opponents, namely an upgrade of the existing connection through Tapa, Tartu, and Valga.
The organizers stressed that the prime ministers of the Baltic states should not sign any agreement over the construction of the project in its current form.
The protests lasted three hours. A new feasibility study is set to be published on Monday next week.
Editor: Dario Cavegn