Saatse Boot
Encyclopedia
The Saatse Boot is an area of Russian territory of 115 ha (284.2 acre) that extends through the road between the Estonian villages of Lutepää
and Sesniki
(themselves between the larger settlement Värska
and village of Saatse
) in Värska Parish
. The piece of land resembles a boot, which is why it is given such name.
It is notable as until recently it meant that the Estonian villages of Sesniki
, Ulitina
and Saatse
were effectively enclaves, as by road they could only be reached by travelling 900 m through Russian territory. Russia does not require any permit for driving through the area, though it is forbidden to pass through the area on foot or stop one's car.
In 2008 a new road connecting Sesniki to Matsuri
opened, making it possible to reach the aforementioned villages without necessarily passing through the 'boot'.
was transferred to Russian SFSR. During the Soviet era it was merely an administrative border between two constituent republics of the Soviet Union
. Estonia regained independence in 1991 and since then the same border (officially referred to as 'line of control' by Estonia) has been the international border between the two countries.
and Meremäe Parish
es. The treaty was signed in 2005 by the foreign ministers of Estonia and Russia, but it is still waiting to be ratified before it can enter into force.
Lutepää
Lutepää is a small community on the Värska to Saatse gravel road in southeast Estonia. At first sight, just like a thousand other villages in the lake and forest landscape of this region where the Russian - Estonian border twists and turns in a manner that defies the logic of everyday life.But...
and Sesniki
Sesniki
Sesniki is a village in Värska Parish, Põlva County in southeastern Estonia....
(themselves between the larger settlement Värska
Värska
Värska is a small borough in Värska Parish, Põlva County in southeastern Estonia.- External links :*...
and village of Saatse
Saatse
Saatse is a village in Värska Parish, Põlva County in southeastern Estonia. It has a population of 89 .Saatse is notable as a village in Estonia that although not an enclave, cannot be reached by road without passing through Russian territory for several hundred metres, through an area known as...
) in Värska Parish
Värska Parish
Värska Parish is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Põlva County. It has a population of 1,344 and an area of 187.82 km².-Settlements:Small borough:VärskaVillages:...
. The piece of land resembles a boot, which is why it is given such name.
It is notable as until recently it meant that the Estonian villages of Sesniki
Sesniki
Sesniki is a village in Värska Parish, Põlva County in southeastern Estonia....
, Ulitina
Ulitina
Ulitina is a village in Värska Parish, Põlva County in southeastern Estonia....
and Saatse
Saatse
Saatse is a village in Värska Parish, Põlva County in southeastern Estonia. It has a population of 89 .Saatse is notable as a village in Estonia that although not an enclave, cannot be reached by road without passing through Russian territory for several hundred metres, through an area known as...
were effectively enclaves, as by road they could only be reached by travelling 900 m through Russian territory. Russia does not require any permit for driving through the area, though it is forbidden to pass through the area on foot or stop one's car.
In 2008 a new road connecting Sesniki to Matsuri
Matsuri, Estonia
Matsuri is a village in Värska Parish, Põlva County, in southeastern Estonia, on the border with Russia. Tartu–Pechory, Valga–Pechory railways and Karisilla–Pechory road all pass Matsuri and cross the border in neighbouring Koidula...
opened, making it possible to reach the aforementioned villages without necessarily passing through the 'boot'.
Background
The current Estonian-Russian border in Setumaa was established in 1944 when most of the territory of Estonian Petseri CountyPetseri County
Petseri County was a county of Estonia established in 1920. Since 1944, however, most of the county had been administered as Pechorsky District of Pskov Oblast, first by the Russian SFSR and then, from 1991, by Russia.-History:...
was transferred to Russian SFSR. During the Soviet era it was merely an administrative border between two constituent republics of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. Estonia regained independence in 1991 and since then the same border (officially referred to as 'line of control' by Estonia) has been the international border between the two countries.
Future
According to the new Estonian-Russian border treaty, the boot will be straightened out and the border oddity will disappear. Area of the boot will be transferred to Estonia in exchange for two patches of land in VärskaVärska Parish
Värska Parish is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Põlva County. It has a population of 1,344 and an area of 187.82 km².-Settlements:Small borough:VärskaVillages:...
and Meremäe Parish
Meremäe Parish
Meremäe Parish is a rural municipality of Estonia, in Võru County. It has a population of 1,140 and an area of 131.97 km².Meremäe is a part of the historical region of Setomaa.-Settlements:Villages...
es. The treaty was signed in 2005 by the foreign ministers of Estonia and Russia, but it is still waiting to be ratified before it can enter into force.