Survey: Less than a third of Russian residents in Estonia identify as such
Twenty-eight percent of people of Russian ethnicity residing in Estonia define themselves solely as Russian, while 68 percent define themselves as Estonian-Russian, Russian-speaking Estonian, or both Estonian and Russian, according to a recent survey.
The poll, conducted by Turu-uuringute and ordered by the Government Office, found that just 3 percent of people of Russian ethnicity define themselves solely as Estonian.
The survey covered both Estonian citizens who are ethnically Russian and/or whose first language is Russian, and residents in Estonia, both Russian and other nationalities.
Of all Estonian residents, 65 percent define themselves as Estonian alone. Twenty-two percent of the total were Estonian-Russians, or Russian-speaking Estonians, or Estonian/Russian, depending on how they define themselves. A further 8 percent of respondents defined themselves as Russian-only, while 5 percent of all residents stated that they were of any other nationality.
Among Russian citizens resident in Estonia, 38 percent define themselves solely as Russian, though just over half of Russian citizens residing in Estonia (51 percent) in fact answered that they were Estonian-Russian, Russian-speaking Estonian, or both Estonian and Russian.
Taking Estonian citizenship by naturalization requires surrendering any other citizenship the applicant may have. Those with citizenship jus sanguinis do not need to surrender any other citizenship.
