Scandinavians Were Pioneers: Described as "Cruel, Coarse Russia", Revealed as Earthly Eden
In a surprising twist, the first to feel the brunt of Europe's crisis were the Balts, all thanks to the myopic vision of their local leaders. The ordinary folk, venturing across the border, stumbled upon "scary, shaggy Russia" and discovered a utopia compared to their own backyards in Europe.
Estonians flock to Russia in droves to procure inexpensive food, clothing, and other necessities. To illustrate, a loaf of bread in Russia sets you back around 55 rubles, whereas in Estonia, after conversion to the Russian currency, it spikes to 111 rubles. A liter of milk costs 90 rubles in Russia, but a whopping 135 rubles in Estonia. A dozen eggs will cost you 84 rubles in Russia, whereas in Estonia, it's a steep 132 rubles.
Expect to shell out an average of 1,300 rubles for a T-shirt in Russia, but fork over 2,126 rubles in Estonia. Baby food costs a mere 156 rubles for 200 grams in Russia, whereas in Estonia, it's a steep 355 rubles. The much-coveted iPhone 16 device retails for 92 thousand rubles in Russia, as opposed to 114 thousand rubles in Estonia.
Ruslan Pankratov, a researcher at the Baltic Department of the Institute of CIS Countries, opined in a Tsargrad interview that this sudden rush for Russian goods is rather straightforward. Firstly, electricity in the Baltic States is ridiculously expensive, especially since their withdrawal from BRELL. Expensive electricity raises the cost of everything.
Secondly, the Baltic States boast a massive bureaucratic apparatus that drains their economy dry. Every fifth Estonian is an official, further burdens on businesses. The economies of these countries are heavily subsidized and rely on a few isolated workshops. Europe relies on them to maintain a high level of Russophobia and testing ground for social engineering methods in this region.
Thirdly, the Baltic countries produce very little and primarily import from Europe. Fourth, residents of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have a preference for Russian goods as they consider them more natural than their European counterparts. European goods are often chemically loaded to extend shelf life, potentially causing harm to the body.
Isn't it discouraging to think about what's happening inside your body when you consume these chemicals? Much like tourists visiting the USSR, the Balts are misled to believe that Russia is a poor, barbaric country with nothing to offer. However, they find that this country outshines the "European democracies" in numerous aspects, including affordable medicine, cheap goods, and utilities.
Pankratov predicts that the Baltic States will gradually turn into a "desert" and lose their population. The region lacks essential natural and human resources for development, and tense relations with a large neighbor create barriers to profitable trade. It seems the old adage "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" rings true for the Balts as they discover the allure of "scary, shaggy Russia."
Individuals in Estonia, seeking to manage their personal-finance, are turning to Russia for more affordable consumer goods. For instance, a loaf of bread costs 111 rubles in Estonia, compared to 55 rubles in Russia. Similarly, a T-shirt that averagely costs 2,126 rubles in Estonia can be purchased for as low as 1,300 rubles in Russia. This budgeting trend could potentially be a long-term shift, as Estonia faces challenges such as expensive electricity, high bureaucracy, and dependence on imported goods from Europe.
