Moscow Cuts Estonia's Supply Of Gas Over Treatment Of Russians

TALLINN, Estonia - Estonians reacted calmly to news that Russia had cut off natural-gas supplies yesterday. They've seen Moscow use its economic muscle to exert political pressure before - and this time it might not work, some suggested.

Russia's cutoff came one day after President Boris Yeltsin accused Estonia of creating a system of "apartheid" that discriminates against ethnic Russians.

The move was reminiscent of Estonia's struggle for independence in 1990 and 1991, when Moscow cut supplies of fuel and other raw materials to Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.

"Sure, this gas cut could make my life more difficult," said pensioner Anu Lepik, who said she may soon have to do without cooking on her gas stove. "But it's no catastrophe. . . . I'll manage."

Since independence in August 1991, relations between Moscow and Tallinn have soured over the status of 500,000 Russian-speakers, most of whom were denied automatic citizenship.

Nearly two-thirds of Estonia's 1.6 million people are ethnic Estonians, and about 30 percent are Russians. Many Russians migrated to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania after the Soviet Union forcibly annexed the Baltic states in 1940.

Relations reached a new low Monday when Estonia's parliament adopted a law classifying Russians as foreigners - even those who have lived here more than 50 years.

Estonia depends entirely on its giant neighbor for gas. The Baltfax news agency said officials estimate Estonia has enough gas to last three or four days.

"Natural gas is one of the last things that Russia can cut off," said Estonian journalist Hans Luik, pointing out that more than two-thirds of Estonia's imports, including fuel, now come from the West.

"What else can they cut off? Russian radios? Big deal," he said.

The natural-gas cutoff could even help Estonia by breaking one of the last economic links with Russia, he said.

"`We'll have to turn to the West for natural gas now . . . we'll just become even more economically independent than we already are."

But a Russian-community activist, Vladimir Lebedev, said he believed Estonia would be unable to ignore Russia's move and that it might be forced to change the law.