2020 has seen the number of asylum applications in Estonia fall to the lowest level in several years, largely the result of the coronavirus pandemic, but also part of a trend for a decline since the peak year of 2015.
Kristiina Raidla-Puhm, Head of the Police and Border Guard Board's (PPA) citizenship and international protection service, told ERR that 59 asylum applications had been received in 2020, a little over half the figure for recent years and placing Estonia as one of the lowest recipients of applications in the EU.
Raidla-Puhm said: "This extraordinary year certainly has a strong influence on applicants for international protection."