MOSCOW, August 16 (RIA Novosti) - On August 13, Russia launched procedures to withdraw from the border treaties with Estonia in line with a government resolution.

Russia and Estonia signed the treaties on the land and maritime borders in Moscow on May 18, 2005. However, on June 27, Russia said it was revoking its signatures after the Estonian parliament ratified the documents with political demands. The ministry said a party to an international treaty usually revoked its signature if it had signed the document without coordinating its provisions completely and had decided to withdraw from its obligations under the treaty. Russia launched the relevant procedures in the wake of statements Estonia made when ratifying the documents. The Russian Foreign Ministry proposed the government notify Estonia of its intention to withdraw.

The government is now expected to give the proposal to the president who had made the decision to sign the border treaties.

Once the proposal is approved, the president will send Estonia the relevant notification.

President Vladimir Putin said July 3 that withdrawing from the treaties was the correct decision.