May 3, 2007
Estonia tweaks the nose of the bear
Estonia’s problem may be about to become Europe’s problem. The Russian outrage sparked by the Baltic state’s decision to remove a Soviet war memorial from Tallinn city centre could have wider ramifications for the whole of the EU.
The rowdy demonstrations outside Estonia’s embassy in Moscow, backed by vitriolic comments in the Russian media, have been worrying enough for diplomatic families to be sent home out of harms way.
Estonia, as an EU member, rightly expects support from the rest of the Union. On Wednesday Germany, holder of the EU presidency, insisted that Moscow respects its obligations to protect embassies, diplomatic staff and their families.
But if the EU is expected to fall in behind one of its smallest members as it confronts its powerful neighbour, the rest of Europe surely has a right to expect its members to show restraint and sensitivity in their external relations.
Removing a Soviet war memorial and exhuming the bones of dead soldiers was always going to be controversial, not least because of Estonia’s sizeable Russian minority. But doing it just before May 9 - when Russia celebrates its victory over the Nazis - was only going to make matters worse.
Many Estonians, understandably, see the memorial as a reminder of 50 years of Soviet occupation and have every right as a sovereign nation to do whatever they like with the statuary in their capital.
But as part of a 27-member political union, the country also has wider obligations to fellow member states not to unnecessarily inflame relations with the EU’s neighbours.
This dispute already shows signs of worsening the tense relationship between Europe and Russia and casting a shadow over a summit between the two sides later this month. The start of talks on a new EU-Russian partnership deal seem further away than ever.
If the demonstrations outside the Estonian embassy become violent - the May 9 holiday could be a flashpoint - there could be a full-scale diplomatic crisis between the EU and Russia and a setback in trade relations.
Europe should and will stand alongside Estonia if matters get worse. But Tallinn will undoubtedly receive a quiet word from Berlin and other capitals about the need to reflect on the fact that Estonia’s history is now very much part of the EU’s present.
Dear mr. Parker,
Do you actually believe that the removal of the statue from Tallinn city centre was the cause of the Russian reaction? Then you also probably believe that the murder of Arch Duke Frans Ferdinand in Sarajevo was the cause of World War I. Russia has clearly assumed a policy of distancing itself from the West, and the statue simply made a convenient excuse.
Posted by: Kai Torvi, Helsinki | May 4th, 2007 at 11:15 am | Report this commentWhat about Estonia’s erecting monuments to SS soldiers fighting on the side of nazi Germany? Is this normal for EU member states to praise its nazi past?
Posted by: Alexei Polyakov | May 4th, 2007 at 8:11 pm | Report this commentWhile Russia’s own backyard is suffering from abuse of civil liberties,ethnic genocide in Chechnya,censorship of the free mecdia(i.e. killing its journalist),and opressing opposing potical parties.The Kremlin likes to wag its finger at Estonia and other former Soviet Republics and tell them what is right and wrong and they bring along with it their old imperialistic views and ideas of nationalistic superiority.If Estonia’s Russian minority had it so bad then why do they stay.The reason that half of the ethnic Russians in Estonia, and Latvia,don’t have citizenship is because they won’t learn the official language and take the citizenship test.Estonia is a sovereign nation and has the right to do whatever it wants within the law.Russia needs to quit stirring up trouble, with it’s former illegally occupied states, by using diplomatic and economic threats.Russia also needs to accept the fact it has lost its former power over these Baltic people and start dealing with its own issues at home.
Posted by: Michael Shea Catozzi | May 6th, 2007 at 12:51 am | Report this commentMr. Polyakov´s comment is incorrect regarding Estonian and Latvian soldiers in WW II. They were illegally mobilised into both occupying forces- into the Nazi Waffen SS by the Germans and into the Red Army by Russia. 90% of the soldiers were illegally drafted into the German forces. Many fled to avoid service. This is the tragedy of a small state caught between two imperial powers.
Posted by: Arturs Graudins | May 8th, 2007 at 8:25 am | Report this commentI have read loads of articles and comments concerning this issue and have always wanted to comment on it myself, however never did. Now, I wish to comment since I see how one-sided the presentation of this topic in the media is. The comment is not well structures, I agree, but there is so much to say, and so little people would understand, since they are used to believing what they are told through the media.
I have noticed that Europe, understandably, focuses on the violent demonstrations being held in Tallinn and Estonia, therefore taking into account only a few days of the whole struggle of the minority to keep the monument in its place. The vandals (Russian and Estonian citizens) who operated in Tallinn are blamed by both, the Russian and the Estonian society. They do not represent the supporters of the monument, rather drunken adolescent boys and sometimes girls who saw this as an opportunity to misbehave.
It is discussed in the Estonian media that the fact that to start with, vandals were not caught straight after their destructive deeds, because the police had specific instructions not to do so, and let them crush a little more, and to let them be filmed by the media that was mixed up within the police wall, to show Europe what they have to deal with, living with the Russian minority. Basically, to attempt to embarrass and to disgrace them. (Almost everyone who was caught during the two sad nights in Tallinn, not necessarily for vandalism, but just for being on the streets that night was placed in Terminal D, in the docks. There was no official report, but many people who by chance were placed there, witnessed cruel beatings of both Russian and Estonian captives. One eye witness reported that he saw policemen beating an old man in this terminal, when everyone else urged them to stop. There are unofficial reports of even sixteen year olds being beaten up on the streets. Only a few of all people caught were charged. No policemen, or members of the K Group were charged.)
Not many people know, that the Russian minority attempted and begged the Estonian Parliament not to move the monument since Spring 2006. It all started with an incident, when some Estonian youngsters splashed dye in the face of the monument. The supporters asked for help and protection of the monument, instead they heard the decision of the government that the monument shall be moved, since it is obviously in the way. The Parliamentary elections were approaching, The situation was convenient. Now, no one writes about how monument supporting groups wrote letters to various foreign organizations urging them to help prevent the monument being dismounted; letters were written to the Estonian government even by various prominent international organizations asking the Estonian government to think it over because the monument stands for liberation from fascism, and this is all it represents.. and the replies were ignorant if present at all. It was pretty obvious that the government did not care much for the opinion of the supporters. It was evident through their statements and comments. This is what triggered the initial mistrust in the Prime Minister by the supporters and the build up of frustration many months before April 2007. Then, nobody talked about the fact the monument represents occupation to the Estonian people. The monument was not touched since the independence from USSR. Why now?
I understand that for many Estonians, the liberation from fascism turned into occupation by the USSR. It is part of their sad history. However, as said the monument does not praise USSR, but represents victory over fascism. The flowers that were laid to this monument were in remembrance of grandfathers who fought in the Great War. For many people who lost their grandfathers in the War and even for the grandfathers who had survived the War, this monument was a holy place. They begged to let it be.
The next step of the government was to invent a law that would allow for a dismounting of the monument and everyone is now talking about the legal side of it. It became legal only for the sake of this monument, only a few months ago. And still there was hope that the government would give in, listen and understand how painful it will be for the Russian minority to see this monument fall and be moved before their eyes. The replies of the government were again abrupt and unpleasant.
When A. Ansip won the elections it was not a surprise at all. However, most still thought that now, he would let go of the monument issue, but at this time, other forces came into play. He had to follow through the promise that he made and he set a date for the dismounting to begin. On this date, many protestors gathered around the monument shouting: «Shame on you!!” There was no destructive behaviour. Just cries of frustration. The police used plastic bullets, water, sound bombs and gas to try and move everyone from the area surrounding the monument that was still in place, just covered and it is then when people were beaten and forcefully moved from the monument to other streets that idiotic behaviour by some of them became evident. Most just moved away from the police, but did nothing, and were still caught and imprisoned. The destructive behaviour is greatly blamed by supporters of the monument, who urged the supporters not to break any laws and behave; it is evident that vandals did not care much for the monument; there were just people who came out on the streets to have fun at other peoples’ expense. The world, however, was shown only one picture: vandalism as a result of the sudden move of the monument. This is a strategic blow from the government, agrees one Estonian sociologist, they managed to present to the world the fact that the monument was dismounted because of the destructive behaviour of the supporters on that given day; and the world agreed and showed compassion for Estonia having to live with those violent Russians (some may remember Estonians being interviewed on Euronews expressing the threat that they feel from the Russian community!!), when it was removed unannounced, but evidently planned, while the people were pushed out. They did not know yet that the monument was planned to be removed that night. Even a child would have predicted or even known that the fact of the dismounting would trigger unrest, and put a final stroke to what the government had successfully started: the division of the nation into Russians and Estonians. Many say that the decision to move the monument that night was taken long before the said emergency meeting that lasted for less than an hour and so all the wheels were set in motion that night.
Now, great speeches about integration are written for our government, to show the world that they care. It surprises me that they did not present them to the nation throughout the duration of the elections, or the year in question. And the Estonian government is now seen as a victim. It is a great play and we are all caught up in it.
I cannot comment on Russia, since I have no facts.
P.S. The Russian minority makes up about 30% of population of Estonia. Most were born and grew up there. It is their homeland. They wish to be heard, not ignored.
To me there is no difference whether you are Estonian or Russian; I think that both are great people living in Estonia. I just wish the Prime Minister would stop pretending and triggering unrest and clever propaganda!
This is my personal view on the subject. Please correct me if I am wrong, or if you know more of what is not being shown.
I wish I was a better writer
Posted by: anonymous | May 8th, 2007 at 4:14 pm | Report this commentP.S. 2:
http://rus.delfi.ee/projects/opinion/article.php?id=15162823
http://rus.delfi.ee/archive/article.php?id=15725078&categoryID=309647&ndate=1177880400
Mr. Anonymus . You have been brainwashed.
Posted by: maria | May 14th, 2007 at 12:51 pm | Report this comment