Estonia sanctions Hezbollah members

Estonia on Thursday said it would sanction Hezbollah and prevent officials from the terror organization, or those affiliated with it, from entering its territory.

“With this step, Estonia stands by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany and Lithuania as well as other countries who have concluded that Hezbollah uses terrorist means and constitutes a threat to the security of many states,” the Estonian foreign minister, Urmas Reinsalu, said in a statement.

“Hezbollah poses a considerable threat to international – and thereby Estonian – security. With this step, Estonia stands by the United States, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, and Lithuania as well as other countries who have concluded that Hezbollah uses terrorist means and constitutes a threat to the security of many states,” he added.

The prohibition of entry applies to Hezbollah affiliates about whom there is information or there are reasonable grounds to believe that their activity supports terrorism and who therefore pose a threat to the Estonian as well as international security.

The detailed list of persons subject to Estonia’s sanctions will be determined by the foreign ministry.

Hezbollah has been designated as a terrorist group by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada, Japan, and many other countries.