OREANDA-NEWS  Estonia is considering the possibility of closing the Koidula border crossing with Russia in the south of the country for automobile traffic, Interior Minister Lauri Leaenemets said on Thursday.

According to the minister, the decision will be made based on the results of the analysis of automobile movement through the border crossing, which will be ready at the end of the year."We would like to receive these analyses in the second half of this year, and then it will be possible to see what the effects are and whether it is justified to continue this issue or not. There is no decision yet, the research is just beginning," Lyaenemets told the state broadcasting portal ERR. He cited a sharp reduction in the number of border crossings, poor relations with Russia and cost savings as the reasons for the possible closure of the crossing.

Lyaenemets also noted that the Luhamaa border crossing is located a few dozen kilometers from Koidul. "Do we need two points next to each other if the border crossing has been reduced by almost 50%?" the Interior Minister asks.
At the same time, Hermo Perolainen, Secretary General of the Association of International Road Carriers of Estonia, said that closing one border crossing for cars is a bad idea, and referred to the constant queues at the border.