Estonia to remove Soviet statue despite warning from Moscow

[allesennogwat]

Estonia votes to remove Soviet statue


TALLINN, Estonia - Estonian lawmakers on Thursday narrowly approved a bill calling for the removal of a Soviet war memorial from their capital, ignoring Moscow's warning of "irreversible consequences" for relations between the two countries.

In a 46-44 vote, lawmakers in the 101-member assembly approved the Law on Forbidden Structures, which prohibits the public display of monuments that glorify the five-decade Soviet occupation of Estonia. Eleven lawmakers were absent or abstained.

The Bronze Soldier, a six-foot statue in downtown Tallinn, has become a rallying point for Estonia's ethnic Russians, who make up about one-third of the Baltic country's 1.3 million residents. The statue was erected in 1947 as a tribute to Red Army soldiers who were killed fighting Nazi Germany.

Many Estonians see it as a bitter reminder of the hardships and repression they endured under decades Soviet occupation. For Russians, the Red Army's crucial role in defeating Nazi Germany remains a cherished point of national pride.

Plans to remove the statue have infuriated Moscow, which accuses Estonia and neighboring Latvia of discriminating against Russian-speakers.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said passing the bill was a "grave mistake, a sacrilegious action which is unacceptable in today's Europe," Russian media reported.

Before the vote, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov warned that the Law on Forbidden Structures would cause "irreversible consequences" for Estonian-Russian relations, Interfax reported.

Marko Mihkelson, a lawmaker from the center-right IRL union, hailed the vote, saying it would serve as a reminder that Russia is not able to interfere in Estonia's internal affairs.

"But, of course, it's rather tragic that such issues still play a big part in our lives," he said.

Meanwhile, Estonia's Russians have vowed to defend the monument, and did not exclude the possibility of a hunger strike.

"Our government has embarked on the path of fascist Germany," said Dmitry Linter, head of an informal group created last year to protect the Bronze Soldier from vandals. "Now we will call upon all European governments to support us in our struggle against the anti-constitutional actions of Estonian politicians."

Soviet forces took over the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in 1940. They were driven out by Nazi forces a year later, but reoccupied the Baltics in 1944 and incorporated them into the Soviet Union.

The three countries regained independence in 1991 amid the Soviet collapse, and joined
NATO and the
European Union in 2004.

Lawmakers added a clause to the bill calling on the government to dismantle the monument within 30 days after the president approves the law.

However, it was unclear whether President Toomas Hendrik Ilves would do so. On Wednesday his spokesman, Toomas Sildam, said Ilves was concerned the bill may violate the constitution.

[allesennogwat]

A man puts flowers to Soviet war memorial in downtown Tallinn, Estonia's capital. Estonia's Parliament on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, passed a law calling for the removal of a contentious Soviet war memorial in a move that was bound to provoke angry reactions from Moscow.

[Accurizer]

My wife's great grandfather fought for the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War and she is a member of Daughters of the Confederacy, so we occasionally flew a confederate flag in commemoration. Our county passed an ordinance disallowing the flying of the Confederate flag as a method to stamp out "hate speech".

Moscow wants them to keep the statues. Seems almost like the same thing except in reverse.

Commemorating a failed system.

[panzertruppe]

It's history,

Heed my words and don't destroy it... It's a view to the future. Taliban did this to huge monuments in Afghanistan, what a waste, simple minded morons! Done lots of places... Shameful waste.

panzertruppe

[CAMPYBOB]

the russification of estonia is a very sore point for native estonians.

stalin moved millions of russians into the baltic states...latvia, estonia and lithuania.

carpetbaggers = russians for those natives.

[gunbug]

I sort of agree with panzertruppe. Heck, they ought to put a huge display NEXT to it to remember the Evil Empire and Stalin's true place in history.

[bubagun]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said passing the bill was a "grave mistake, a sacrilegious action which is unacceptable in today's Europe," Russian media reported.

I am surprised that the socialists here are ALSO not raising the question of how removing communist iconography, from formerly soviet occupied countries,isn't sacrilegious. Joe kennedy will prob link up with the kerrykommy to go there and protest. Perhaps they will all fly over on Air Force One....bellapelosi's new personal plane.

[Accurizer]

"bellapelosi"

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[glen avon]

Originally Posted by gunbug

I sort of agree with panzertruppe. Heck, they ought to put a huge display NEXT to it to remember the Evil Empire and Stalin's true place in history.

I agree. no need to trash the Russian soldier, he did what he was told to do, and the Nazis were evil.

[festergrump]

Originally Posted by Accurizer

My wife's great grandfather fought for the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War and she is a member of Daughters of the Confederacy, so we occasionally flew a confederate flag in commemoration. Our county passed an ordinance disallowing the flying of the Confederate flag as a method to stamp out "hate speech".

Commendable, definitely. I think it's great to honor him by flying his flag.

Kennesaw mountain (a Georgia battlefield of the Civil War) has always had a huge stone monument in dedication to the Union soldiers from Illinois who fell there. Unfortunately, the North would never reciprocate such an act of honour...

Hell, they even lobbied against the Georgia flag (and won ) because it reminded them of "Confederate" ideals, yet the yanks still move here in droves... (I'm a transplant, myself, but I still have much respect and love for the South).

[cphilip]

I think they should simply move it to a less promenent and controverisal location. Simple compromize heals old wounds without creating new ones.... life then moves forward for all.

[Accurizer]

Originally Posted by festergrump

I still have much respect and love for the South).

The original notion of the writers of the U.S. Constitution of "States Rights" and the sovereignty of each state OVER the Federal Government died with the Civil War. Yes, the "south" lost, but much, much more was lost than that.

The Civil War saw the rise of the Federal Government over the individual states which the Founding Fathers specifically tried to avoid. The United States at that point should have been renamed the United Federal Government of America. Not the "United States".

Compared to any other, this is still the best country and government on earth, but Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton et. al., are rolling in their graves.

[festus]

Originally Posted by cphilip

I think they should simply move it to a less promenent and controverisal location. Simple compromize heals old wounds without creating new ones.... life then moves forward for all.

Good idea. Russians bought it and they should get it back! Best thing is to dismantle the monument and crate it up and ship it to Red Square!

[scaldwellk]

Originally Posted by Accurizer

The original notion of the writers of the U.S. Constitution of "States Rights" and the sovereignty of each state OVER the Federal Government died with the Civil War. Yes, the "south" lost, but much, much more was lost than that.

The Civil War saw the rise of the Federal Government over the individual states which the Founding Fathers specifically tried to avoid. The United States at that point should have been renamed the United Federal Government of America. Not the "United States".

Compared to any other, this is still the best country and government on earth, but Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, Alexander Hamilton et. al., are rolling in their graves.

Very well said.

[sjohnson]

Yes, well said. State's Rights are so diluted that most think that only the Federal government rules the country.