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{{short description|Controversial Soviet World War II memorial in Tallinn, Estonia}}
<!---{{POV}} Please, don't add this tag without an explanation on the talk-page --->
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
]
] celebrations in 2024]]
The '''Bronze Soldier''' ({{langx|et|Pronkssõdur}}, {{langx|ru|Бронзовый солдат|Bronzovyy soldat}}) is the informal name of a controversial<ref name="PIW">{{cite web | last=Sinisalu | first=Arnold | title=Propaganda, Information War and the Estonian-Russian Treaty Relations: Some Aspects of International Law | url=http://www.juridica.ee/international_en.php?document=en/international/2008/2/145397.ART.10.pub.php | publisher=Juridica International | access-date=2009-04-04 | quote=The Bronze Soldier memorial was erected to the soldiers of the Soviet Union who presumably died in conquering Tallinn in 1944. It is a historical fact that when withdrawing from Tallinn on 22 September 1944, the German Army did not engage in any battles with the ] heading for the city. Instead, the advancing Russian units encountered the Estonian flag flying in the tower of Tall Hermann, a symbol of State power in Tallinn, there were no casualties. }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="BoIN">{{cite book |title=Bulletin of international news |year=1944 |publisher=Royal Institute of International Affairs, Information Department |page=825 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V4siAAAAMAAJ&q=Otto+Tief |quote= Estonia. Sept. 21. - Patriots in Tallinn reassumed Estonian control over Cathedral Hill, with the Government buildings, and proclaimed a national Government headed by Otto Tief, who ordered the German forces to leave and appealed to the Russians to recognize Estonian independence. }}</ref> ] ] ] in ], ], built at the site of several ]s, which were relocated to the nearby ] in 2007. It was originally named "Monument to the Liberators of Tallinn"<ref>{{cite book|last=Eiki|first=Berg|author2=Piret Ehin|title=Identity and foreign policy: Baltic-Russian relations and European integration|url=https://archive.org/details/identityforeignp00berg|url-access=limited|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2009|pages=|isbn=978-0-7546-7329-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Wertsch|first=James V.|year=2008|title=Collective Memory and Narrative Templates|journal=Social Research: An International Quarterly |volume=75|issue=1|pages=133–156|doi=10.1353/sor.2008.0051 |s2cid=141826300 }}</ref><ref name="Wertsch">{{cite journal|last=James V.|first=Wertsch|title=A Clash of Deep Memories|journal=Profession|publisher=MLA Journals|issue=8|pages=46–53|issn=0740-6959}}</ref> ({{langx|et|Tallinna vabastajate monument|links=no}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cca.ee/?id=11271|title=Kaasaegse Kunsti Eesti Keskus / Pealeht|first=All content (c) KKEK, Website by|last=WWW.KARLSONS.NET|work=CCA.ee|access-date=26 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parnupostimees.ee/280906/esileht/artiklid/10067855_1.php|title=Parnupostimees.ee|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130213134956/http://www.parnupostimees.ee/280906/esileht/artiklid/10067855_1.php|archive-date=13 February 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> {{langx|ru|Монумент освободителям Таллина|Monument osvoboditelyam Tallina|links=no}}<ref name="Wertsch"/>), was later titled to its current official name "Monument to the Fallen in the ]",<ref>, from the Estonian Embassy in Russia website {{in lang|ru}}</ref> and is sometimes called {{Lang|et|Alyosha}}, or {{lang|et|Tõnismäe monument}} after its old location. The memorial was unveiled on 22 September 1947, three years after the ] reached Tallinn on 22 September 1944 during World War II.
The monument consists of a stonewall structure made of ] and a two-metre (6.5 ft) ] ] of a ] in a World War II-era Red Army ]. It was originally located in a small park (during the Soviet years called the Liberators' Square) on ] in central Tallinn, above a small burial site of Soviet soldiers' remains, reburied in April 1945.
The '''Bronze Soldier''' ({{lang-et|Pronkssõdur}}, {{lang-ru|Бронзовый Солдат}}), originally '''Monument to the Liberators of Tallinn''' ({{lang-et|Tallinna vabastajate monument}}, {{lang-ru|Монумент освободителям Таллина}}), sometimes called the '''Tõnismäe Monument''' or '''Alyosha''', is a ] ] ] in ], ]. The memorial was unveiled on ], ], three years after the ] entered Tallinn in ] during ].
In April 2007, the ] relocated the Bronze Soldier and, after their exhumation and identification, the remains of the Soviet soldiers, to the Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn. Not all remains were reburied there, as relatives were given a chance to claim them, and several bodies were reburied in various locations in the ] according to the wishes of the relatives.
The monument consists of a stonewall structure made of ] and a two meter (6.5 ft) ] ] of a ] in a ]-era ] military uniform. It was originally located in a small park (during the Soviet years called the Liberators' Square) on ] in central Tallinn, above a small burial site of Soviet soldiers' remains reburied in April ].
InApril], the ]relocated the '''BronzeSoldier'''and,afterexhumationandidentification,theremainsoftheSovietsoldiers to the ].Differentinterpretationsofhistory,also between the Russian Federation and Estonia,hadledtoacontroversy,peaking with two nights of ]s in Tallinn and besieging of the Estonian embassy in Moscow for a week. The events caught international attention and caused a multitude of political reactions.
Political differences over the interpretation of the events of the war symbolised by the monument had already led to a controversy between Estonia's ] and ], as well as between ] and Estonia. The disputes surrounding the relocation peaked with two nights of ]s in Tallinn (known as the ]), besieging of the Estonian embassy in ] for a week, and ]. The events caught international attention and led to a multitude of political reactions.<ref>{{cite news|title=Soviet Memorial Causes Rift between Estonia and Russia|newspaper=Der Spiegel |date=27 April 2007 |url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/deadly-riots-in-tallinn-soviet-memorial-causes-rift-between-estonia-and-russia-a-479809.html|access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>
==Preface==
==Background==
{{Further|Estonia in World War II}}
===Historical background===
{{seealso|Estonia in World War II}}
The monument was originally erected by Soviet authorities in Estonia ''to the liberators of Tallinn'' who entered the city on 22 September 1944.<ref>{{cite book |title=USSR information bulletin |year=1949 |publisher=The Embassy |page=644 |url=https://books.google.com/books?ei=cm01R5fMF5SysgP38dmFAg&q=%22to+the+Liberators+of+Tallinn%22&btnG=Search+Books}}</ref> German Army units in the city retreated rather than seeking to defend it.<ref name="PIW"/> Instead, the ] attempted to re-establish Estonian independence by taking power in Tallinn,<ref name="BoIN"/> and by proclaiming Provisional Government of Estonia and declaring re-establishment of the country's independence on 18 September 1944.<ref>{{cite book |title=Eastern Europe |last=Frucht |first=Richard |year=2005 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=1-57607-800-0 |page=111 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVBB1a0rC70C&pg=PA111}}</ref> By the time the Red Army entered Tallinn, they were entering an already-empty city with an independent government, hence occupying Tallinn.
On ] ], warships of the Red Navy appeared off Estonian ports and Soviet bombers began a threatening patrol over ] and the nearby countryside.<ref name="TM091939"> at ] on Monday, ], ]</ref> On ] ], the order for a total military blockade on Estonia was given to the Soviet ].<ref>{{fi icon}} at Finnish Defence Forces home page</ref><ref>{{ru icon}} from the State Archive of the Russian Navy</ref> On ] 1940, the Soviet Union invaded Estonia.<ref name="TM006241940"> at Time magazine on Monday, Jun. 24, 1940</ref> After the German occupation 1941–1944, Soviet forces reconquered Estonia in the autumn of ] and Estonia remained a part of USSR until 1991. The Soviet authorities, having gained control over Estonia, immediately imposed a regime of terror. Estonian graveyards and monuments were destroyed. Among others, the ] (where to the '''Bronze Soldier''' was relocated in 2007) had the majority of gravestones from 1918–1944 destroyed by the Soviet authorities, and this graveyard became reused by the ].<ref> at britishembassy.gov.uk </ref>
Other cemeteries destroyed by the authorities during the Soviet era in Estonia include ] cemeteries established in 1774 ], ] and the oldest cemetery in Tallinn, from 16th century, ].
The Bronze Soldier monument replaced a preceding wooden memorial – a one-metre-high, wooden pyramid, about 20 cm in diameter, of a plain blue color crowned by a red star – that had been blown up on the night of 8 May 1946<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"> {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614045450/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/failid/statement_red_army_memorial.pdf |date=14 June 2007 }} {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927025809/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/doc.php?282742 |date=27 September 2007 }} Historical statement, compiled by Peeter Kaasik, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, 2006. (Estonian language version: {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927030214/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/doc.php?34981 |date=27 September 2007 }} )<br /> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614045450/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/failid/statement_red_army_memorial.pdf#page=5 |date=14 June 2007 }} <br /> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614045450/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/failid/statement_red_army_memorial.pdf#page=12 |date=14 June 2007 }} <br /> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614045450/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/failid/statement_red_army_memorial.pdf#page=15 |date=14 June 2007 }} <br /> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614045450/http://www.valitsus.ee/brf/failid/statement_red_army_memorial.pdf#page=17 |date=14 June 2007 }}</ref> by two Estonian teenagers. The two girls, 14-year-old ] and 15-year-old ] destroyed it, in their own words, to avenge the Soviet destruction of war memorials to the ]. Both were later arrested by the ] and sent to the ].<ref>{{cite news|first=Marianne |last=Björklund |title=Hon sprängde bronsstatyns föregångare |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1159&a=649580 |publisher=] |date=12 May 2007 |access-date=2007-05-13 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070515193234/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1159&a=649580 |archive-date=15 May 2007 }}</ref>
===Preceding monument===
== Building and design ==<!--
The Bronze Soldier monument replaced a preceding wooden memorial — a meter high wooden pyramid, which was about 20 centimetres in diameter, of a plain blue colour and its top decorated by a red star — that had been blown up in the night of ], ]<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"> Historical statement, compiled by Peeter Kaasik, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, 2006. (Estonian language version: )<br><br><br><br></ref> by two Estonian school girls, 14 year old ] and 15 year old ] who had done this, in their own words, as a revenge for Soviet atrocities. Both were later arrested by the ] and sent to the ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Marianne |last=Björklund |title=Hon sprängde bronsstatyns föregångare |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=1159&a=649580 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-05-13}} {{sv icon}}</ref>
] had stood.]]-->
]
The Bronze Soldier monument, with its figure of a soldier against a stone background, was created in 1947 by ] and supervising architect ].<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt" /> It was unveiled on 22 September 1947, on the third anniversary of the Soviet ] re-entering Tallinn in 1944. Originally intended as an official war memorial to Soviet soldiers who died fighting in World War II, an ] was added in front of the monument in 1964. The Soviet liberation theme was changed when Estonia re-established independence in 1991, now stating "For those fallen in World War II"; at the same time, the flame was extinguished.
==Buildingand design ==
=== Prototype ===
]
<!--
The prototype for the face and figure of the statue is not known. It has been suggested to have been the Estonian ] gold medal ] ], as there is a resemblance. The sculptor Enn Roos denied this and instead suggested that he used "a young worker who lived nearby", and there have been claims the worker he is referring to was a carpenter named Albert Johannes Adamson.<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt" /><ref name="epl274240">{{cite news |first=Anneli |last=Ammas |title=Kes on see mees, kes seisab Tõnismäel? |url=http://www.epl.ee/?artikkel=274240 |publisher=] |date=16 September 2004 |access-date=24 July 2007|language=et}}</ref>
] had stood.]]-->
]
On the other hand, Palusalu's daughter, Helle Palusalu, has claimed that her father served as a model for the statue.<ref>{{cite news |title=Estonian wrestler confirmed as model for controversial Soviet statue |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Estonian+wrestler+confirmed+as+model+for+controversial+Soviet+statue/1135227259036 |publisher=] |date=14 May 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007}}</ref> Roos's denial could have been motivated by Palusalu's having defected from the Soviet military and thus having fallen into disfavour with the Communist Party.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stefan |last=Lundberg |title=Brottaren bakom bronssoldaten |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=645570 |publisher=] |date=2 May 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704214323/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=645570 |archive-date=4 July 2007 }}</ref>
The '''Bronze Soldier''' monument, with its figure of a soldier against a stone background, was created in 1947 by the Estonian sculptor ] and supervising architect ].<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"/> It was unveiled on ], ], on the third anniversary of the Soviet ] entering Tallinn in 1944. Originally intended as an official war memorial to Soviet soldiers who died fighting in World War II, an ] was added in front of the monument in ]. The Soviet liberation theme was changed when Estonia re-established independence in ], now stating "For those fallen in World War II"; at the same time the eternal flame was put out.
=== Burial site ===
On 25 September 1944, the remains of two Soviet soldiers were buried in the centre of the ] hill, with additional remains of Soviet soldiers reburied there in April 1945.<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"/> After the burial of the Red Army soldiers on Tõnismägi, the square was named Liberators' Square on 12 June 1945 with the Bronze Soldier Monument added two years later. The exact number and names of the persons buried in the burial grounds under the monument had not been established with certainty before the excavations of 2007, although the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had ordered a comprehensive historical investigation in 2006.<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"/> According to official records of the Military Commissariat of the Baltic Military District, however, the following 13 soldiers who fell during World War II were reburied in the grounds in April 1945:
* Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Kulikov (Михаил Петрович Куликов) — commander of the 657th regiment, born in 1909 in ], ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
===Prototype ===
* Captain Ivan Sysoyev (Иван Михайлович Сысоев) — ] of the 657th regiment, born in 1909 in village Topsa, ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
The prototype for the face and figure of the statue is not known. It has been suggested to have been the Estonian ] gold medal ] ], as there is a resemblance. The sculptor Enn Roos denied this and instead suggested that he used "a young worker who lived nearby", and there have been claims the worker he is referring to was a carpenter named Albert Johannes Adamson.<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"/><ref name"epl274240">{{cite news |first=Anneli |last=Ammas |title=Kes on see mees, kes seisab Tõnismäel? |url=http://www.epl.ee/?artikkel=274240 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref>
* Gefreiter (Senior Private) Dmitri Belov — 125th division (killed in a battle 45 km from Tallinn in September 1944)
On the other hand, Palusalu's daughter, Helle Palusalu, has confirmed that her father served as a model for the statue.<ref>{{cite news |title=Estonian wrestler confirmed as model for controversial Soviet statue |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Estonian+wrestler+confirmed+as+model+for+controversial+Soviet+statue/1135227259036 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> Roos's denial could have been motivated by Palusalu's having defected from Soviet military and thus having fallen into disfavour by the Communist Party.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stefan |last=Lundberg |title=Brottaren bakom bronssoldaten |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=645570 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{sv icon}}</ref>
* Colonel Konstantin Kolesnikov (Константин Павлович Колесников) — second commander of 125th division (killed on 21 September 1944 in a battle 45 km from Tallinn). Born in 1897 in Zhilaya Kosa, ].
* Captain Ivan Serkov (Иван Степанович Серков) — chief of intelligence, 79th ] brigade (killed on 21 September 1944, in a battle 45 km from Tallinn). Born in 1922, ].
* Major Vasili Kuznetsov (Василий Иванович Кузнецов) — commander of 1222nd artillery regiment. Born in 1908 in ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
* Lieutenant Vasili Volkov (Василий Егорович Волков) — commander of mortar platoon (125th division). Born in 1923 in ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
* Captain Aleksei Bryantsev (Алексей Матвеевич Брянцев) — 125th division. Born in 1917 in ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
* Sergeant Stepan Hapikalo (Степан Илларионович Хапикало) — tank commander of the 26th tank regiment (according to official military sources died of a disease{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}}). Born in 1920 in ]. Died on 28 September 1944.
* First Sergeant, medic Yelena Varshavskaya (Елена Михайловна Варшавская) — division medical assistant of 40th Guard Mortars regiment (died 22 or 23 September 1944 in Tallinn). Born in 1925 in ].
* ]Sergeant Aleksandr Grigorov – died 7 March 1945
* Lieutenant Colonel Kotelnikov – no information available
* Lieutenant I. Lukanov – no information available
According to the Estonian Ministry of Defence, the remains of 12 persons had been exhumed by 2 May 2007 and would be reburied by the end of June 2007 at the same cemetery where the statue had been relocated.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1166&setlang=eng |title=MOD releases overview of archaeological excavations at Tõnismägi |date=2 May 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007044756/http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1166&setlang=eng |archive-date=7 October 2007 }}</ref> Furthermore, the archaeologists performing the digs confirmed that no more burials have taken place on the grounds of the monument.
===Burial site ===
The Russian embassy and other former USSR states were asked to provide DNA samples for the identification of the buried bodies. Those persons who can be identified were to be turned over to their relatives for reburial.
On ], ], the remains of two Soviet soldiers were buried in the center of the ] hill, with additional remains of Soviet soldiers reburied there in April 1945.<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"/> After the burial of the Red Army soldiers on Tõnismägi, the square was named Liberators’ Square on ], ] with the Bronze Soldier Monument added two years later. The exact number and names of the persons buried in the burial grounds under the monument had not been established with certainty before the excavations of 2007, although the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had ordered a comprehensive historical investigation in 2006.<ref name="MFA_hist_stmt"/> According to official records of the Military Commissariat of the Baltic Military District, however, the following 13 soldiers who fell during World War II were reburied in the grounds in April 1945:
The initial ] analysis revealed 11 male and 1 female among those 12 found at the site. DNA profiles of all 12 were turned over to the embassy of the Russian Federation in Tallinn.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Delfi.ee |url=http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/eesti/article.php?id=15965053 |title=Tõnismäele oli maetud üks naine ja 11 meest |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007|language=et}}</ref>
== Relocation ==
*Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Kulikov (Михаил Петрович Куликов) — commander of the 657th regiment, born in 1909 in ], ]. Killed on 22 September, 1944.
{{main|Bronze Night}}
*Captain Ivan Sysoyev (Иван Михайлович Сысоев) — ] of the 657th regiment, born in 1909 in village Topsa, ]. Killed on 22 September, 1944.
According to historian Alexander Daniel, the Bronze Soldier has symbolic value to ], symbolising not only Soviet victory over ] in the ], but also their claim to rights in Estonia.<ref name=Daniel> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930223848/http://pda.regnum.ru/news/issues/823273.html |date=30 September 2007 }}, Alexander Daniel, ] 4 May 2007 {{in lang|ru}}</ref> Most ] considered the Bronze Soldier a symbol of ] and repression following World War II.<ref>{{cite news|first=Anthony |last=Johnston |title=The Memory Remains |url=http://russiaprofile.org/culture_living/a1230646924.html |publisher=russiaprofile.org |access-date=24 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714172000/http://russiaprofile.org/culture_living/a1230646924.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref>]In 2006, the ] ] petitioned the Tallinn City Council to demolish the monument,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.kommersant.com/p-8583/r_500/Estonian_Nationalists_Want_Statue_of_WWII_Soviet_Liberator_in_Tallinn_be_Pulled_Down/|title=Estonian Nationalists Want Statue of WWII Soviet Liberator in Tallinn be Pulled Down|date=8 May 2006|publisher=]|access-date=9 March 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606103926/http://www.kommersant.com/p-8583/r_500/Estonian_Nationalists_Want_Statue_of_WWII_Soviet_Liberator_in_Tallinn_be_Pulled_Down/|archive-date=6 June 2011}}</ref> which saw the Estonian president in January 2007 vetoing a bill which would have allowed for its destruction and instead ordering its removal from the city centre.<ref name="bbc120107">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6255051.stm|title=Estonia to remove Soviet memorial |date=12 January 2007|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2009-03-09}}</ref> In February 2007, Estonian nationalists unsuccessfully attempted to place on the statue a wreath made of barbed wire decorated with a plaque saying "Murderers of the Estonian People".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.epl.ee/uudised/375658|title=Pronkssõduri juures toimus rüselus|work=EPL.ee|access-date=26 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070306030335/http://www.epl.ee/uudised/375658|archive-date=6 March 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Gefreiter (Senior Private) Dmitri Belov — 125th division (killed in a battle 45 km from Tallinn in September 1944)
*Colonel Konstantin Kolesnikov (Константин Павлович Колесников) — second commander of 125th division (killed on 21 September, 1944 in a battle 45 km from Tallinn). Born in 1897 in Zhilaya Kosa, ].
*Captain Ivan Serkov (Иван Степанович Серков) — chief of intelligence, 79th ] brigade (killed on 21 September, 1944, in a battle 45 km from Tallinn). Born in ], ].
*Major Vasili Kuznetsov (Василий Иванович Кузнецов) — commander of 1222nd artillery regiment. Born in 1908 in ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
*Lieutenant Vasili Volkov (Василий Егорович Волков) — commander of mortar platoon (125th division). Born in 1923 in ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
*Captain Aleksei Bryantsev (Алексей Матвеевич Брянцев) — 125th division. Born in 1917 in ]. Killed on 22 September 1944.
*Sergeant Stepan Hapikalo (Степан Илларионович Хапикало) — tank commander of the 26th tank regiment (according to official military sources died of a disease{{Fact|date=April 2007}}). Born in 1920 in ]. Died on 28 September 1944.
*First Sergeant, medic Jelena Varshavskaya (Елена Михайловна Варшавская) — division medical assistant of 40th Guard Mortars regiment (died 22 or 23 September 1944 in Tallinn). Born in 1925 in ].
*Sergeant Aleksandr Grigorov — died 7 March 1945
*Lieutenant Colonel Kotelnikov — no information available
*Lieutenant I. Lukanov — no information available
Amid political controversy, in April 2007 the newly elected ] ] started final preparations for the reburial of the remains and relocation of the statue, according to the ] received during the ].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Solvak |first1=Mihkel |last2=Pettai |first2=Vello |title=The parliamentary elections in Estonia, March 2007 |journal=Electoral Studies |date=September 2008 |volume=27 |issue=3 |pages=574–577 |doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2008.01.004 |quote=The new government faced its first test a month after the elections when, on 26 April, Ansip carried out his promise to have the Bronze Soldier removed }}</ref> The government claimed that the location of the memorial at a busy intersection in Tallinn was not a proper resting place, which led to critics to accuse the government of pandering to ].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/04/28/violence_continues_over_estonias_removal_of_soviet_war_statue/|title=Violence continues over Estonia's removal of Soviet war statue|last=Tanner|first=Jari|date=28 April 2007|agency=Associated Press|access-date=9 March 2009}}</ref> Disagreement over the appropriateness of the action led to mass protests and ]s (accompanied by ]) lasting two nights, the worst Estonia has seen.<ref name="BBC28">{{cite news |title=Tallinn tense after deadly riots |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6602171.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Tuuli Aug |author2=Kadri Masing |author3=Aivar Pau |title=Olukord tänavatel on rahulik |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/383785 |publisher=] |date=27 April 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=et |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429025340/http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/383785 |archive-date=29 April 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
According to the Estonian Ministry of Defence, remains of 12 persons had been exhumed by ] ] and would be reburied by the end of June 2007 at the same cemetery where to the statue had been relocated.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1166&setlang=eng | title=MOD releases overview of archaeological excavations at Tõnismägi |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24 | publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence}}</ref> Furthermore, the archaeologists performing the digs have confirmed that no more burials have taken place on the grounds of the monument.
The Russian embassy and other former USSR states were asked to provide DNA samples for the identification of the buried bodies. Those persons who can be identified will be turned over to their relatives for reburial.
The initial DNA analysis revealed 11 male and 1 female among those 12 found at the site. DNA profiles of all 12 were turned over to the embassy of the Russian Federation in Tallinn.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Delfi.ee |url=http://www.delfi.ee/news/paevauudised/eesti/article.php?id=15965053 |title=Tõnismäele oli maetud üks naine ja 11 meest |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref>
In the early morning hours of 27 April 2007, after the first night's rioting, the government decided, at an emergency meeting, to dismantle the monument immediately, referring to security concerns. By the following afternoon the stone structure had been dismantled as well. As of the afternoon of 30 April, the statue without the stone structure had been placed at the ].<ref>{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="tagasi">{{cite news |title=Pronkssõdur avati taas rahvale vaatamiseks |url=http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/258058.php |publisher=] |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=et |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502041351/http://postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/258058.php |archive-date=2 May 2007 }}</ref> An opening ceremony for the relocated statue was held on 8 May, ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Marianne |last=Björklund |title=Oron lurar bakom lugn statyinvigning |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=647718 |publisher=] |date=8 May 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=sv |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070519015522/http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=647718 |archive-date=19 May 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kadri |last=Masing |title=Valitsus asetas vaikuses pronksõdurile pärja |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/385005 |publisher=] |date=8 May 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=et |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926221907/http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/385005 |archive-date=26 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Significantly, Red Army ] celebrate ] a day later, on 9 May.) During June 2007 the stone structure was rebuilt. Relatives have made claims to bodies of four of the war dead. Unclaimed remains were reburied at the military cemetery, next to the relocated monument, on 3 July 2007.<ref name="mod-reburial">{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1259&setlang=eng |title=Reburial service set for 3 July |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence |date=29 June 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528173124/http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1259&setlang=eng |archive-date=28 May 2008 }}</ref><ref name="pm-reburial">{{cite news |title=Tõnismäelt välja kaevatud punaväelased maeti kaitseväe kalmistule |url=http://postimees.ee/030707/esileht/siseuudised/270103.php |publisher=] |date=3 July 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=et |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705230112/http://www.postimees.ee/030707/esileht/siseuudised/270103.php |archive-date=5 July 2007 }}</ref><ref name="dn-reburial">{{cite news
==Controversy==
|author=]-AFP
Amid political controversy, in April ] the ] started final preparations for the reburial of the remains and relocation of the statue, according to the ] received from the last elections (held in ]). Disagreement over the appropriateness of the action led to mass protests and ]s (accompanied by ]) lasting 2 nights, the worst Estonia has seen.<ref name="BBC28">{{cite news |title=Tallinn tense after deadly riots |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6602171.stm |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |coauthor=Tuuli Aug |coauthor=Kadri Masing |coauthor=Aivar Pau |title=Olukord tänavatel on rahulik |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/383785 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref> In the early morning hours of ], ], after the first night's rioting, the Government of Estonia decided, at an emergency meeting, to dismantle the monument immediately, referring to security concerns. By the following afternoon the stone structure had been dismantled as well. As of the afternoon of ], the statue without the stone structure had been placed at the ] of the ] in Tallinn.<ref></ref><ref name="tagasi">{{cite news |title=Pronkssõdur avati taas rahvale vaatamiseks |url=http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/258058.php |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref> An opening ceremony for the relocated statue was held on ], ].<ref>{{cite news |first=Marianne |last=Björklund |title=Oron lurar bakom lugn statyinvigning |url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=647718 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{sv icon}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kadri |last=Masing |title=Valitsus asetas vaikuses pronksõdurile pärja |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/385005 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref> (Significantly, Red Army ] celebrate ] a day later, on ].) During June 2007 the stone structure was rebuilt. Relatives have made claims to bodies of four of the war dead. Unclaimed remains were reburied at the military cemetery, next to the relocated monument, on ], ].<ref name="mod-reburial">{{cite web |url=http://www.mod.gov.ee/?op=news&id=1259&setlang=eng |title=Reburial service set for 3rd July |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Defence |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref><ref name="pm-reburial">{{cite news |title=Tõnismäelt välja kaevatud punaväelased maeti kaitseväe kalmistule |url=http://postimees.ee/030707/esileht/siseuudised/270103.php |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref><ref name="dn-reburial">{{cite news |author=]-] |title=Estland begravde sovjetsoldater på nytt
|title=Estland begravde sovjetsoldater på nytt
|url=http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=667391 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-21}} {{sv icon}}</ref><ref name="sl-reburial">{{cite news |first=Nataly |last=Koppel |publisher=] |url=http://www.sloleht.ee/index.aspx?id=236633 |title=Sõjamehed maeti kaitseväe kalmistule |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref>
}}</ref><ref name="sl-reburial">{{cite news|first=Nataly |last=Koppel |publisher=] |url=http://www.sloleht.ee/index.aspx?id=236633 |title=Sõjamehed maeti kaitseväe kalmistule |date=3 July 2007 |access-date=24 July 2007 |language=et |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713104016/http://www.sloleht.ee/index.aspx?id=236633 |archive-date=13 July 2007 }}</ref>
On 27 April 2007, alongside the riots, there was also a ] on Estonian institutions, including its Parliament, banks, and newspaper agencies. Although the Estonian government blamed Kremlin, no direct evidence could be produced.
The '''Bronze Soldier''' has significant symbolic value to Estonia's ], symbolising not only Soviet victory over ] in the ], but also their claim to rights in Estonia.<ref name="taloussanomat" /><ref name=Daniel> , Alexander Daniel, ] ] ] {{ru icon}}</ref> Many ] considered the Bronze Soldier a symbol of ] and repression.<ref name=Daniel/>
== Vandalization in protest of the Russian attack on Ukraine ==
=== Background ===
]
==== Interpretation of history ====
On 12 April 2022, the Bronze Soldier entered the news again, when protesters of the Russian attack on Ukraine ground one of the medals off its chest.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vahtla |first1=Aili |title=Bronze Soldier monument in Tallinn vandalized |url=https://news.err.ee/1608568171/photos-bronze-soldier-monument-in-tallinn-vandalized |access-date=25 April 2022 |publisher=ERR |date=18 April 2022}}</ref> This came in the context of a governmental ban on symbols of Russian militarism and public meetings which incite violence, leading up to the anniversary of May 9.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Turovski |first1=Marcus |title=Police to ban public meetings toting hostile symbols in northern Estonia |url=https://news.err.ee/1608570394/police-to-ban-public-meetings-toting-hostile-symbols-in-northern-estonia |access-date=25 April 2022 |publisher=ERR |date=20 April 2022}}</ref>
During ], the reassessment era of Soviet history in USSR, in 1989 the USSR condemned the 1939 ] between Nazi Germany and itself that had led to the invasion and occupation of the three Baltic countries.<ref> at Google Scholar</ref> The collapse of the ] led to the restoration ]'s ] ''(See ].)'' The mass deportations of ethnic Estonians during the Soviet era together with migration into Estonia from other parts of the Soviet Union resulted in the share of ethnic Estonians in the country decreasing from 88% in 1934 to 62% in 1989. <ref name="BNE"> AT U.S Department of State </ref>''(See ].)''
], ], commemorating government members killed by communist terror]]
]'' group on ] ], one day before its removal.]]
According to the ] <ref>http://newsfromrussia.com/cis/2005/05/03/59549.html</ref>, the ]<ref>]</ref>, ]<ref> by ]</ref>, ]<ref> at state.gov</ref> Estonia remained occupied by the Soviet Union until restoration of its independence in 1991 and the 48 years of Soviet occupation and annexation was never recognized as legal by the Western democracies.
According to the European Court of Human Rights the lawful government of Estonia in 1940 was overthrown and Soviet rule was imposed by force. The totalitarian communist regime of the Soviet Union conducted large-scale and systematic actions against the Estonian population. <ref></ref> Elections were organized in which only Soviet-supported candidates were permitted to run <ref></ref> As reported by the ] In 1940: Those who had failed to have their passports stamped for voting Estonia into the USSR were allowed to be shot in the back of the head by Soviet tribunals,<ref name="TM191940">at Time magazine on Monday, Aug. 19, 1940 </ref>
At the same time, some commentators fear that Russia's insistence on pro-Soviet historical interpretations may signal an attempt to reclaim control over the "near abroad". <ref> at wsj</ref>
The view that Estonia's annexation into USSR was legitimate is reinforced by the official statements of the ]<ref> {{ru icon}}</ref>, including that the USSR presence in the Baltics was legal according to international law and that the Baltics could not be occupied because there was no declaration of war. Those endorsing this version of history tend to see the monument as a symbol of their purported right to live in Estonia as descendants of the "people that liberated the country from fascism".<ref name="taloussanomat">{{cite news |first=Leena |last=Hietanen |title=Venäläiset jättivät jäähyväisiä pronssipatsaalle |url=http://www.taloussanomat.fi/ulkomaat/2007/04/26/Ven%E4l%E4iset+j%E4ttiv%E4t+j%E4%E4hyv%E4isi%E4+pronssipatsaalle/200710248/102 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{fi icon}}</ref>
Integration efforts in everyday life of Estonia have mainly revolved around two issues: ] and ] but are hampered by inflammatory Russian allegations of human rights violations and accusations of fascism, whether from religious leaders, associations, media, or the government.<ref>http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2993</ref><ref>http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2991</ref><ref name="ruvr">{{cite news |url=http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=4184&cid=59&p=10.11.2006 |title=Estonia is Encouraging a Resurgence of Nazism in Europe |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref><ref name="intf01">{{cite news |url=http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11620667 |title=Europe must assess neo-Nazism in Estonia - Kokoshin |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref><ref name="intf02">{{cite news |url=http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?menu=1&id_issue=11622404 |title=State Duma condemns Estonia's 'glorification' of fascism, wants world to 'adequately' assess it |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref><ref name="tlgr">{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/30/westonia30.xml&DCMP=OTC-Autonolnk |title=Estonia blames memorial violence on Russia |coauthor=Adrian Blomfield |coauthor=Bruce Jones |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref>
==== Human rights ====
{{main|Estonia-Russia relations#Human rights concerns}}
Many Estonian Russophones and international observers feel frustration over their human rights.
] has expressed concern (in 2006) that the language policy of Estonia may violate the human rights of the Russian speaking minority.<ref name=amnesty_third>{{cite web |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR510052006?open&of=ENG-2EU |title=Estonia: Every third person a potential victim of discrimination (Press release EUR 51/005/2006) |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref><ref name=amnesty_discriminationmustend>{{cite web |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR510022006 |title=Estonia Linguistic minorities in Estonia: Discrimination must end (Press release EUR 51/002/2006) |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref> The sentiment is shared by the ], claiming (in 2005) that "there is discrimination against the Russian-speaking minority (not only ethnic Russians but also Russian-speaking Jews)."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osce.org/documents/cio/2005/06/15360_en.pdf |format=PDF |title=Statement by Mr. Alexander Zhuravskiy, Member of the Delegation of the Russian Federation |work=OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism and on Other Forms of Intolerance, Cordoba, 8 and 9 June 2005 |pages= |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref>
On the other hand many international organizations have found those frustration baseless.
The ] (OSCE) and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities have declared that they cannot find a pattern of human rights violations or abuses in Estonia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.osce.org/documents/hcnm/1993/04/2728_en.pdf |format=PDF |title=CSCE Communication No. 124 |pages= |author=Max van der Stoel |publisher=] (named CSCE before 1995) |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref>
Although the OSCE and other international organizations, such as the Finnish Helsinki Committee, have found the Citizenship Law to be satisfactory, the Russian Government and members of the local ethnic Russian community continued to criticize it as discriminatory, notably for its Estonian language requirements. In September 2003, a visiting NATO Parliamentary Assembly delegation concluded that the country had no major problems in treatment of its Russian.<ref></ref>
==== Accusations of glorification of fascism ====
{{main|Estonia-Russia relations#Accusations of fascism}}
There have been accusations of ], glorification of fascism, resurrection of ], being pro-Nazi and the like, against Estonia, even from official spokesmen of Russia.<ref name="ruvr"/><ref name="intf01"/><ref name="intf02"/><ref name="tlgr"/>
<ref name=Kangur/>.
While Estonian establishment finds those allegations baseless they fuel the suspicion of the actions by Estonian government among the "protectors" of the monument. {{Fact|date=September 2007}}
==== Further background ====
{{see|Estonia-Russia relations#Controversies}}
{{see|Estonia-Russia relations#Language and citizenship issues}}
=== Confrontation ===
].]]
After the restoration of Estonian independence in 1991, a public controversy surrounded the memorial that grew into a direct confrontation about 2006–2007. The ] was put down shortly after the Estonian redeclaration of independence.<ref name=Extinguish>, '']'', April 27, 2007 {{ru icon}}</ref> In 1994 the memorial underwent a reconstruction. Following the reopening the bronze headstones on the stone background and the protective barrier surrounding the memorial were removed<ref name=Zorina>Екатерина Зорина, , ], December 20, 2006. {{ru icon}}</ref>
The World War II Red Army veterans and representatives of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia have continued to gather at the monument on certain dates, celebrating ] (]) and ] ("Liberation of Tallinn" in 1944). The display of Soviet flags and other Soviet symbols at these gatherings had offended many Estonians.<ref>{{cite news |title=Estonia split over WWII memorial |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6364399.stm |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>
A non-violent confrontation at the monument site took place on ] ], when a group of Estonians headed by ] approached the celebrating Red Army veterans. To preserve public order and out of security concerns, the police helped Böhm and his accompanying group to leave the area, along with their ], and let the veterans' meeting with the Soviet symbols continue.<ref>{{cite news |coauthor=Alo Raun |coauthor=Peeter Kuimet |title=Politsei hoidis pronkssõduri juures ära kähmluse |url=http://www.postimees.ee/120506/esileht/siseuudised/tallinn/200883.php |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-22}} {{et icon}}</ref> On the next day, Estonian nationalist<ref>{{cite news |author=] |title=Jüri Liim: 9. mail ei ole pronkssõduri juures punalippe |url=http://www.liiklus.ee/57566 |publisher=Liiklus.ee |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref> ] said he would blow up the monument unless the authorities removed it promptly.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rando |last=Tooming |title=Jüri Liim lubab Pronkssõduri õhku lasta |url=http://www.postimees.ee/040906/esileht/siseuudised/201093.php |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref> In the same month, the tensions rose again and the police kept a 24-hour patrol in place, cordoning off the area until early September 2006.<ref></ref>
A small group of Estonian ]s set up an organization in mid-2006 called '']'' (Night Watch), calling for nightly vigils to guard the monument from possible removal attempts.<ref name="petition">{{cite web |url=http://www.pomnim.com/index_eng.htm |title=Petition |author='']'' |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>
On ], ], in explaining the necessity for thorough investigation of the burials, Estonian PM Andrus Ansip related a number of urban legends (grave holds remains of executed looters or drunk Red Army soldiers run over by Red Army tank). The Russian press sensationalized Ansip's comments in their headlines, presenting Ansip as disparaging ] veterans.<ref></ref>
=== Legislative preparations ===
==== War Graves Protection Act ====
On ], ], ] passed the War Graves Protection Act, with 66 votes in favour and 6 against<ref>{{cite web |publisher=] |url=http://www.riigikogu.ee/?id=41996&parent_id=41993&op=printit&langchange=1 |title=The Riigikogu passed the War Graves Protection Act |work=Weekly Record, January 8-11, 2007 |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>, initiated by the ], Social Democratic Party, Res Publica Party and Isamaaliit Party. The preamble of the Act states:
: ''"In observance and acknowledgement of the obligation of the Republic of Estonia to guarantee the protection, respect and dignified treatment of the remains of persons who have died in acts of war conducted on the territory of Estonia; finding that the burying of persons who have died in acts of war to unsuitable places is in discord with European culture and the tradition of honouring the memory and remains of the deceased; on the basis of Article 34 of the Protocol Additional to the ] of 12 August 1949, and relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts (Protocol 1) adopted on 8 June 1977, according to which the Estonian state is obliged to guarantee the respect of the remains and gravesites of persons who have died due to acts of war in the territory of Estonia, and the marking thereof, and in pursuance of which the Estonian state is entitled to rebury the remains on the basis of the public interest, the Riigikogu passes this Act."'' <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.legaltext.ee/et/andmebaas/tekst.asp?loc=text&dok=XX10006&pg=1&tyyp=X&query=S%F5jahaudade+kaitse+seadus&ptyyp=RT&keel=en |title=Protection of War Graves Act |publisher=Estonian Ministry of Justice |year=2007 |month=January |accessdate=2007-07-24}} (Official translation of the legal text)</ref>
The Act came into force on ], ].<ref>{{cite web |work=Elektrooniline Riigi Teataja |url=https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=12777064 |title=Sõjahaudade kaitse seadus |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref>
Estonia has mutual ] protection treaties with ] and ] but not with Russia, giving special status to many war graves in Estonia but not the one on Tõnismägi. The War Graves Protection Act's major result was to codify the international customs and practices regarding the handling of war graves (see above) into country-unspecific terms, and to extend unilateral protection to war graves not covered by mutual international protection treaties. Most 20th century battles on Estonian soil having been fought by Soviet (largely ethnically-Russian), German, Estonian armies and a formation of the Finnish volunteers under Estonian command, almost all war graves in Estonia not covered by mutual treaties or earlier domestic laws are those of the ].
Another effect of the law was that it placed all war graves under the jurisdiction of the ]. Tõnismägi being city land, municipal cooperation would have been necessary for exhumation and/or monument removal without such legislation.<ref>]: </ref><ref>Postimees: </ref> As non-citizen residents can vote in Estonian municipal elections and were largely in support of retaining the statue, the ] has a large Russian representation and any approval was unlikely in the foreseeable future. The law eliminated the need to negotiate with the municipal government for war grave related business — specifically, exhumation of the buried bodies and, if the corpses would be found, relocation of the monument which would then be considered a grave marker.{{or}}
==== Proposed Law on Forbidden Structures ====
On ], ], Riigikogu approved the Law on Forbidden Structures by 46 votes to 44. This would have banned the public display of monuments that glorify the ] or Estonia's fifty years of ]. The monument itself was specifically mentioned, to be dismantled within 30 days of the President signing this into law. However, President ] vetoed the law, arguing that it did not comply with the ] (the only legal basis for a presidential veto under Estonian constitution).<ref>{{cite news |first=Aivar |last=Pau |title=Ilves ei kuuluta keelatud rajatise seadust välja |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/374457 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref> A veto override was never attempted and this bill did not become law.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kadri |last=Masing |title=President jättis keelatud rajatise kõrvaldamise seaduse välja kuulutamata |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/375424 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Ravil Khair Al-Din |title=Президент не провозгласил закон |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/375429 |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{ru icon}}</ref>
=== Public perception ===
The idea of relocation was controversial among inhabitants of Estonia. According to an ] ordered by ] and performed by Turu-uuringute AS from ] through ] ] 37% of respondents supported relocation of the monument, while 49% were against relocation and 14% had not formed any opinion on the subject. Relocation of the monument had slightly stronger support from native Estonian speakers — 49% in favour of relocation — while only 9% of native Russian speakers supported relocation.<ref>{{cite news |first=Urmet |last=Kook |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/383323 |title=Eestlased teisaldaks pronkssõduri, venelased mitte |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Ravil Khair Al-Din |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/383376 |title=Эстонцы перенесли бы памятник, а русские нет |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{ru icon}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Kristiina |last=Mõttus |url=http://www.postimees.ee/250407/esileht/siseuudised/tallinn/257074.php |title=Eestlased teisaldaks pronkssõduri, venelased mitte |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-24}} {{et icon}}</ref>
According to a non-scientific poll by the daily newspaper ] on ], when preparations for relocation had already begun, 85.12% of online readers taking part in the poll voiced their support for the relocation, 12.98% opposed it and the remaining were uncertain.<ref>; the specific poll in question (''"Kas pronkssõdur tuleks Tõnismäelt ära viia?"'') can be found by browsing to 25.04.2007 {{et icon}}</ref>
== Events surrounding relocation ==
] ]. The sign says "archeological excavation".]]
Estonian Police cordoned off the square and nearby streets in the early morning of ], ], in preparation for archaeological excavations in search of the remains and, if found, their relocation.<ref> — ]</ref>
A tent structure was erected to shield the excavations from weather and from public view.<ref name="kommersant762639">'']'': </ref> Three members of the protest organization "]" (also sometimes translated as Night Vigil) who were monitoring the situation declined to leave the area and locked themselves in their car. The police had to break a side window of the car to extract them forcibly, causing slight shard wounds to one.<ref></ref><ref></ref> Having been removed, ] spread rumours that the monument removal procedure had started.<ref>HULIQ.com 2007-04-26: </ref> After a few hours, around 1,000 people, mostly Russian-speaking, had surrounded the police cordon and some from the group attempted to break through it.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref> Several meetings in protest of the removal were held. Around dusk, the mob turned more and more violent, starting to throw stones and empty bottles at the police.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref> By around 21:15, the mob activity turned to what the police considered the first night's riot.<ref>Postimees: </ref>
In the early morning of ], ], the Estonian government held an emergency meeting and at 3:40 a.m. local time, decided, upon advise from the Estonian Security Council, to relocate the monument immediately (as "the ground for violent acts"). Three hours later, by 6:40 a.m., the monument had been moved to an undisclosed provisional location.<ref></ref><ref>, BBC, Friday, 27 April 2007, 06:31 GMT 07:31 UK</ref><ref name="epl383641"/><ref></ref>
The government stated that the statue would be re-erected as soon as possible in a military cemetery maintained by the Estonian Defence Forces.<ref></ref>
As of the afternoon of ] the statue without the stone structure had been re-erected.<ref></ref><ref name="tagasi"/> Reassembling the stone structure was delayed out of concerns over the æsthetic qualities of the site on reopening, as the stone structure's weight required a new foundation to be constructed out of concrete. This work began on ]<ref name="wall23may"> {{et icon}}</ref> and was estimated to be completed by the end of June.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/384060 |title=Pronkssõdur on uues kohas! |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-26}} {{et icon}}</ref> For the time of the construction work, the statue was temporarily moved to a nearby location on the cemetery.
An ecumenical religious ceremony (prayer for the dead) was held on ] before commencing the exhumation, by two chaplains, a Lutheran and an Orthodox. The Russian ambassador, having been invited to monitor the exhumation, or appoint an observer, officially declined the invitation.<ref></ref><ref></ref>
=== Riots and violence ===
<!----{{main|2007 Estonian unrest}} Afd-request under debate ---->
]
], April 26, 2007.]]
====April 26 - April 27====
Estonia's authorities report that the violence started around 21:20 (], ]+3), as the protesters started to assault the policemen.<ref name="epl383641"> {{et icon}}</ref><ref>http://tuvasta.politsei.ee/0426_01.html — photos of protests and riots. The site asks people to identify any participants in riots and the looting that ensued.</ref> Riot police responded by applying ] (sometimes erroneously reported as ]) to the crowd in attempt to indurse dispersion of the crowd.<ref>
— ]</ref> However, the crowd did not disperse and started committing acts of vandalism and rampant looting<ref> {{et icon}}</ref><ref> {{et icon}}</ref> of nearby shops and buildings. By midnight the riots had spread around the centre of Tallinn, with massive damage to property — a total number of 99 cases of vandalism, including cars that had been turned upside down, broken and looted shop windows, pillaged bars and kiosks.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref><ref> {{et icon}}</ref>
By 2 AM, things had calmed down a little; over 100 people had been arrested.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref> At about half past two (AM), reports came in that mass riots had ended and now the police were only looking for fugitives. The last of the violent protesters were apparently taken away by a large passenger bus.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref>
By morning 300 people had been arrested. 57 people were injured, including 14 police officers. Dmitry Ganin (permanent resident of Estonia who holds Russian citizenship) died in a hospital from a stabbing wound <ref name="posti_ganin"> {{et icon}}</ref>. Estonian press alleged that wounds were likely inflicted by a vandal<ref name="posti_ganin" />. As per September 2007 13 persons had been arrested by Estonian police on suspicion of beating but not stabbing<ref></ref> of Dmitri Ganin, all had been subsequently released pending end of investigation. As of September 4, 2007, no charges had been laid <ref name="delfi-ganin"></ref>. According to police report, goods stolen from some of the vandalised stores were found in pockets of Mr. Ganin.<ref></ref>
Tallinn City Council suspended all strong alcohol retail licenses inside the city borders for a week.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref> There were concerns, mostly in foreign media, that the protest may escalate into an ] between Estonians and members of ethnic Russian minority.<ref> — ] {{fi icon}}</ref>
] ] even speculated that conflicts may spark a Russian ] with support from ] (the former ]). <ref name="kavkazcenter">]: </ref>
====April 27====
{{wikinews|One killed in clashes over World War monument in Estonia}}{{wikinews|Clashes over World War II monument in Estonia continue}}
The night of ] saw a recurrence in violence, with a second night of rioting. Rioters used ]s while police responded with ], ]s and ]s.<ref name="BBC28"/> Rioting and looting in a few towns of North East Estonia (mainly ]) with a majority of Russian speaking population, were also reported. <ref name="BBC28"/> Estonian sources attributed the disruptions to youths consuming stolen alcohol. In all, some 1,000 people were detained in two nights of rioting. 156 were injured (including some two dozen police officers) and numerous stores, offices and homes were damaged. <ref> Itar TASS, April 29, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-29</ref> As there had been too many arrests for the normal pre-trial detention centers, many suspects were taken to a hastily set up holding area in the ''Terminal D'' of the Tallinn Seaport.<ref name=Vesti> ] ] ] {{ru icon}} </ref> <ref name=ETV24> ] ] ] {{ru icon}} </ref>
====April 28 - April 29====
Calm was restored throughout the day and night of ] without further major incidents<ref></ref>, but police launched a campaign to take on "police assistance" volunteers, and by Sunday evening more than 700 persons had signed up and started training.<ref> Itar TASS, ] ]. Retrieved: 2007-04-29</ref>
On ] a declaration by a self-named ''] ]'' started circulating in Russian language Internet forums. The declaration called for "all Russian men living in Estonia" to take up arms. It demanded that Estonian citizenship be granted to all Estonian residents by ], threatening to start an ] on ].<ref name="kolyvan"> {{ru icon}}</ref> At this time, it is not clear whether this group is the one described by the KavkazCenter report (see above) or is a ] inspired by it.
====April 30====
No major incidents have been reported, but some vehicle drivers have tried to block the ] in the center of ] by intentionally driving at a slow speed and excessively using car horn.<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/tallinn/258007.php {{et icon}}</ref>
''The Union of the Peoples of Estonia'' (''Eestimaa Rahvuste Ühendus'', an association of minority ethnicities living in Estonia) has published a declaration today,<ref>http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/384005 {{et icon}}</ref> condemning ] and maraudery.
A Russian ] delegation led by the former ] Director ] has also arrived in Estonia, in what was described as a "fact finding mission".<ref> Interfax, ] ]. Retrieved: 2007-04-30 {{ru icon}}</ref> While still in Russia, the chairman of the delegation had already made a declaration, asking Estonia's government (led by ]) to ].<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/257998.php {{et icon}}</ref> ], leader of the of foreign affairs' commission of the '']'', who was one of the Estonian politicians to meet the Russian delegation, expressed his regret that the Russians had come with prejudices and had intervened in Estonia's internal affairs (e.g. by calling for Estonia's government to resign).<ref>http://rus.postimees.ee/300407/glavnaja/estonija/15586.php {{ru icon}}</ref> Later in the day, the reappearance of the bronze soldier threw the Duma's fact finding mission off course, with delegation leader Kovalev saying that he hadn't been invited by the Estonian authorities to the ceremony at the military cemetery.<ref> Interfax, April 30, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-30 {{ru icon}}</ref>
There have been some voices that call for cabinet resignation among the Estonian public as well.<ref>e.g. {{et icon}}</ref> The most aggressive criticism has been made by members of the ], who were left out of the coalition talks during the recent elections.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref>
====May 1====
<!--
] -->
Russian State Duma delegation visited the new location of the statue, placed flowers and a ] (a common symbol of remembrance of the dead in both Estonian and Northern Russian cultures) in front of the bronze soldier. The delegation members also closely examined the figure and claimed that it had been cut in pieces and reassembled.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref> The Ministry of Defence denied those claims. "The lines on the statue are because of ] technology and from the time the statue was created," said the press representative of Estonian Ministry of Defence. Those kind of statues are being made in several pieces and later assembled in one.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref>
Estonia's Foreign Minister ] said that the ] has promised to help end a siege at the Estonian embassy in ]. Paet had spoken to his German counterpart ] who "promised speedy assistance from the European Union to normalise the situation around the Estonian embassy in Moscow." ] currently holds the rotating presidency of the ].<ref> AFP, May 1, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-05-01</ref>
The two-day visit by the Russian fact finding delegation was originally set up to defuse a diplomatic dispute over the Bronze Soldier statue, but it only appeared to have escalated the feud. After the initial developments during the delegation's visit, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet cancelled a meeting with the delegation, issuing a statement saying: "I will not meet with a delegation that spreads only lies regarding events in Estonia and whose objective is not the accurate portrayal of the situation, but rather election campaigning".<ref>, by Jari Tanner, Associated Press, May 2, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-05-02.</ref>
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
File:BronzeFlowers2007 1.JPG|Flowers and police at the old location of the monument, 9 May 2007
Image:Bronze Soldier, 27 May 2007, portrait.jpg|The Bronze Soldier on the cemetery to which it was moved in April 2007. This picture from ] ] shows the statue at a temporary location, near the new permanent one. The statue was moved to the temporary location on ] ] to facilitate construction of the statue's accompanying stone structure.<ref name="wall23may"/>
File:BronzeFlowers2007 2.JPG|Flowers at the old location of the monument, 9 May 2007, with the excavation tent in the background
File:BronzeFlowers2007.JPG|First ] at the new location, 9 May 2007
Image:Entrance to cemetary with Bronze Soldier, 27 May 2007.jpg|Poster by the cemetery's entrance, stating that a monument will be opened here in June 2007. (Picture taken ] ].)
File:BronzeNewFlowers1.jpg|Second ] at the new location, 9 May 2008
File:Bronze Flowers.jpg|Flowers on the old site of the monument 9 May 2008
Image:Bronze Soldier of Tallinn, 2007.jpg|The Bronze Soldier monument, with the stone structure reconstructed, at its new permanent location. (Picture taken ] ].)
</gallery>
</gallery>
== See also ==
<BR CLEAR=ALL>
* ]
* ]
=== Claims of police brutality ===
* ]
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* ]
{{NPOV-section}} Agreement (see talk) currently to include the development of controversy in this article --->
The secretary of the ] and at the same time the chairman of the ] ] claimed that as detention centers are overcrowded many of the detainees were taken to a cargo terminal in Tallinn seaport. "People were forced to squat for hours or lie on the concrete floor with their hands tied behind their backs. The police used plastic handcuffs which caused great pain," he said. "The security men selectively beat the detainees including women and teenagers. We have an account that they beat a 12-year-old girl lying on the floor for attempting to stand up. We have pictures of a toilet which is stained with the blood of the injured detainees," Zarenkov said. He said that all the accounts would be collected, documented and submitted to human rights groups.<ref name="zarenkov">Interfax: </ref>
The police has denied the claims of the Anti-Fascist Committee. A spokesman for the northern police prefecture, Harrys Puusepp, refuted the charges of ill treatment of the detainees and also said that rumors of the resignation of police officers (see below) are untrue. "Nobody has beaten them. They have been treated politely. All amenities were provided for them and medical assistance was offered. Those who spent more than 12 hours in detention were supplied with meals," he said. <ref name="zarenkov"/>
The Estonian ] has checked on these claims, visited all detention centres, and found no signs of violations of Constitution, nor any detainees who would support claims of police brutality<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/250207/tartu_postimees/246794.php</ref> or make complaints <ref>EPL: </ref>.
As of ] ] the office of ] of Estonia received more than fifty complaints on the police brutality, after checking the facts seven criminal cases against police have been opened<ref name=SirőkAdvocate> ] {{ru icon}} </ref>.
On ] ] ] ] published an interview with ] nationals Klaus and Lucas Dornemanns (65 and 35 years old) <ref name=Iltalehti> ] ] ] {{fi icon}} </ref>. According to their story the Dornemanns were just walking in the area of Freedom Square when they were beaten and arrested by the police. However by their own later admission they attempted to cross the square between the lines of the security forces and demonstrators who were in a stand-off position. The son spent 8 hours in the terminal D and his 65-year old father 10 hours. According to them at least half of the detainees had no connection to the vandalism on the Tallinn streets. Still they were denied access to water and toilets, they were even forbidden to move. If anybody attempted to stand up they were beaten by the police<ref name=Iltalehti/>. The article provides photograph of the Dornemanns showing large ]s over their bodies.
Members of the special fact-finding mission of ] also visited the WCs of the detention area in temporary detention area in the D terminal of ], looking for blood stains caused by beatings erroneously reported by some newspapers, and found none.<ref>Postimees: </ref>
Zarenkov also claimed that about 350 Russian-speaking police officers want to resign, or have already resigned, from Estonian police force so as not to participate in ostensibly violent actions to stop the unrest, such as mandatory beating of women and children.<ref>Interfax: </ref> Such claims have been refuted by Estonian police.<ref>Postimees: </ref>
A number of video clips, usually taken via cellphone camera, have appeared on ] under the keyword 'eSStonia', ostensibly to corroborate the police brutality claims.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=58266861</ref>
According to Estonian newspaper ], most of them are mislabelled, apparently in an attempt to ] the incidents recorded in the clips in a pro-rioter way. For example, the clip labelled "" features no pedestrian-menacing cars.<ref>Eesti Päevaleht: </ref>
===Situation at the Estonian embassy in Moscow===
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In the days following the relocation, the ] in ] was besieged by protesters, including pro-Kremlin youth organisations '']'' and the '']''.
On Monday, April 30, Estonia's foreign minister Urmas Paet reported that "the situation had become much worse in the previous<!--was: last--> night.<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/257966.php</ref> The building is by now completely blocked."<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/258003.php {{et icon}}</ref> Paet says that Estonia's foreign ministry had sent a ]<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/300407/esileht/siseuudised/258005.php {{et icon}}, also reported by Russian media: http://rian.ru/world/relations/20070430/64681928.html {{ru icon}}</ref> to Russia's foreign ministry, due to Russia's apparent unwillingness and impotency to defend the embassy building and its staff (which violates ], especially the ]). Estonia's foreign ministry claims that the life and health of the diplomats and their family members residing in Moscow have been directly threatened.<ref>http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/384003 {{et icon}}</ref>
Estonia's president ] expressed his astonishment that Russia has - despite the promises of foreign minister Lavrov - not taken actions to protect the diplomatic personnel. In Ilves' opinion, the ostensible powerlessness of Russia's defense services (e.g. ]) is especially surprising, given their quick work when dispersing meetings of Russian opposition forces.<ref>As images show, the protesters have entered into embassy territory. E.g. 'фашистская зона' - 'fascist zone' has been scribbled on embassy wall.</ref>
On the same day,<!--2007-04-30--> members of the crowd protesting before the embassy declared that if Estonian authorities would not set a date for the restoration of the Bronze Soldier statue in its former prominent place, they would begin demolishing the Estonian embassy building on ] (traditionally also Labour Day, important in ] and the former ]). The building itself was covered with graffiti and stones were thrown at it.
During the night, protesters, both from pro-] and ] parties, were playing and singing aloud famous ] ] of the ].<ref>http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,53600,4101086.html</ref> They called the Estonians ]s.{{Fact|date=May 2007}}
On ], the protesters attacked the Estonian ambassador, Marina Kaljurand, despite diplomatic immunity. The vehicle of the ] ambassador was also attacked. <ref>[http://www.iltalehti.fi/uutiset/200705026057323_uu.shtml Iltalehti -
Ruotsin suurlähettilästä vastaan hyökättiin Moskovassa]</ref> Family members of the embassy staff have been evacuated<ref>http://www.postimees.ee/020507/esileht/siseuudised/258306.php {{et icon}} / http://rus.postimees.ee/020507/glavnaja/estonija/15699.php {{ru icon}}</ref>. During the night of May 2 - May 3, the Estonian embassy in Moscow was stoned by unknown vandals; there were also protests around the embassy of Georgia (Georgia has expressed support for Estonia) <ref>http://www.epl.ee/artikkel/384405 {{et icon}}; http://rus.postimees.ee/030507/glavnaja/za_rubezhom/15740.php {{ru icon}}</ref>.
On May 3, the ambassador Kaljurand left Moscow on a two-week vacation.
The protesters ended their blockade the same day. There has been speculation that the vacation
was suggested by
Germany's Foreign Minister ] (by means of behind-the-scenes ])
On May 1, Estonian foreign minister ] suggested to consider calling off the upcoming EU-Russia Summit that was due to take place on 18 May): "We consider it necessary that the European Union react in the toughest way to Russia’s behavior. It might imply suspending or canceling various negotiations. Postponing the EU-Russia Summit should be seriously considered"<ref></ref><ref></ref>. Paet stated that "the EU is under attack, because Russia is attacking Estonia."
<ref name="euractiv"></ref>
<ref></ref>.
Spokesperson for German Chancellor ] told that the summit will not be postponed, but
European Commission said that a decision to raise the issue at the EU-Russia Summit depends on the development of the current situation<ref name="euractiv"/>. Commission spokesperson Christiane Hohmann said: "We share the concerns about the increasing violence around the Estonian embassy in Moscow and we strongly urge the Russian authorities to implement their obligations under the Vienna Convention for diplomatic relations."<ref name="euractiv"/>
===Threatened and alleged sanctions===
On May 3, 2007, Russia suddenly announced plans for repairs to railway lines to Estonia, disrupting oil and coal exports to Estonia. As a result, oil companies scurried to secure alternative export routes. Normally Estonia's ports handle about a quarter of such shipments from Russia to world markets. Although Russia denied it was imposing economic sanctions or taking politically inspired action against Estonia, it is suspected that the sudden railway repair plan is connected to the row over the war memorial.<ref> S. WAGSTYL, "Russia rail move to hit Estonia supply line" in the '']'', May 3, 2007, p. 3.</ref>
The Russian transport firm ] says it is suspending construction of an $80m (£40m) car plant in Estonia.<ref>BBC NEWS, ''Estonian embassy blockade to end'', May 3, 2007, </ref>
===Propaganda===
====Pro-rioter propaganda====
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During the events, a number of propaganda efforts were undertaken by various people and groups of people that served to muddy the issue, confuse the state of the monument, and inflame the pro-monument (mostly Russian-speaking) population{{Fact|date=May 2007}}. Even before the first riot, rumours were circulated that under cover of the tent, the monument had been demolished and the war victims buried underneath thrown out as trash.<ref>Postimees: </ref> These rumours were supported with a fake photo depicting the statue sawed off above feet.<ref>See .</ref> Picked up by Russian media, the rumors were sometimes falsely attributed as public statements of "Estonian government press service".<ref>RIA Novosti: </ref>
After the first night of rioting, the direction of the propaganda changed towards attempts to justify the rioting, declaring the rioters to be peaceful demonstrators and the arrested suspected vandals political prisoners, and making various accusations towards the ].
Leader of the Constitutional party Andrei Zarenkov claimed on Friday morning that the bones had already been dug up and thrown away and the statue cut to pieces and scrapped. He was sure, it was never going to be restored <ref> ] ] ]</ref>. A day later the same man claimed that more than 350 ethnic Russian police officers have already or will be resigning shortly in protest to having to discipline rioters. These claims of his were soon refuted as outright lies by police officials<ref> ] ] ]</ref><ref>Interfax: </ref><ref>Postimees:
</ref>
The State Infosystems' Development Center has evaluated the ongoing DDoS attack on Estonian government's and infrastructural Internet servers as being partly motivated by desire to suppress flow of information regarding the events from Estonia to other countries.<ref>Postimees: </ref>
A number of video clips, usually taken via cellphone camera, have appeared on ] under the keyword 'eSStonia', ostensibly to corroborate the ].<ref>http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=58266861</ref>
According to Estonian newspaper ], most of them are mislabelled, apparently in an attempt to ] the incidents recorded in the clips in a pro-rioter way. For example, the clip labelled "eSStonia - Police car crushes pedestrians crowd" features no pedestrian-menacing cars.<ref>Eesti Päevaleht: </ref>
=====Pro-rioter propaganda in Russia=====
Russian news sources have reported various rumours mentioned above as facts. This has caused confusion of the situation among people served by Russian-language media, and may have influenced the severity of the ]{{Fact|date=May 2007}}.
Distinctly, many participants in the blockade believe that what were characterised as "riots" by Estonian official sources were actually a peaceful political demonstration and that Dmitri (also spelt Dmitry) Ganin, the man that died in the riots died through police brutality while attempting to defend the monument.<ref>ITAR-TASS: </ref><ref>ITAR-TASS: </ref><ref>EPL: </ref> He has been ceremonially declared a "hero of Russia" by activists involved in the blockade.<ref></ref><ref>] ], ]: </ref>
<!-- Here, <ref>ETV Välisilm: </ref> was referenced. However, this appears to be a wrong video. The ritual was probably shown in some of the AK reports on the situation. The reports are available in the ETV24 webbed video archive; finding the right one will take some time. -->
====Dmitri Linter====
A number of propagandistic claims were made by or about ], a leader of ], who is currently (as of June 16th, ]) in court-sanctioned detention pending investigation into his role in organising the rioting.
In May 4th, Rambler-news reported that Mr. Linter had been taken by the Estonian law enforcement from the ] hospital under an ], and that his health and whereabouts had been withheld from his family since.<ref name=Marina> ] ] ] {{ru icon}}</ref> These claim were soon refuted by the State Procurature, whose official release declares that " was taken to the hospital because he claimed to have "various ills", he was given a full medical and declared healthy".<ref></ref>
===Law enforcement response===
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The police are treating the riots as disorderly conduct (a ] under Estonian law) or severe disorderly conduct committed in a group (a ] under Estonian law), depending on the circumstances of any particular incident, and are proceeding accordingly. About 1,000 suspected rioters were arrested. Acts of vandalism and looting are treated separately, and processed as criminal incidents separate from the rioting.
Three men (], ] and an 18-year old school boy ]<ref name="SirőkAdvocate"/>)have been detained under a court order for up to 6 months, pending investigation of the suspicion of organising riots (a ] under Estonian law punishable of imprisonment of up to 5 years).<ref>Postimees: </ref><ref>Postimees: </ref>. There were concerns about the health of Mark Sirők, who has ], but his attorney stated that he had no complaints<ref name="SirőkAdvocate"/>.
Since the riots took place in the centre of the city, after hours of tension, many thousands of frames of photographic and video material of the events are available, both from journalists and security cameras and from witnesses among general public (who usually used cellphone cameras). The police have gathered a number of such photographs depicting unidentified suspects on a website at (not available from outside Estonia while a foreign ] attack on Estonian government servers is underway<ref>Government Communication Office Briefing Room: </ref><ref>F-Secure Web log: </ref>) and asked the public to identify such unidentified people.
The police have also called for rioters and looters to turn themselves in voluntarily.<ref>Postimees: </ref> Aiding law enforcement in investigating one's own unlawful acts, including turning oneself in before an arrest warrant has been issued, is considered a meritorious deed and grounds for lessening punishment under Estonian law.
218 out of almost 300 vandals, who were arrested during events on 26.–28. April, had a previous criminal record<ref name "vandals"></ref><ref></ref>. Among their previous crimes are 45 drug-related violations, 91 larcenies and 18 robberies <ref name "vandals"/>.
=== Epilogue ===
] ]]]
The former site of the monument and of the now-empty burial site being city property, the government's position is that it is the responsibility of Tallinn municipal government to decide what to do next with Tõnismägi hill, former location of the monument.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref> On ], it was reported that, as agreed with the City Park Office, the Ministry of Defence is planting an enormous flower garden on the site, as a part of the post-exhumation restoration work mandated by the War Graves Act.<ref>Postimees: {{et icon}}</ref> On ], ], the Ministry of Defence announced a plan to replace the flowerbed with a permanent park complete with small trees.<ref>Postimees: [http://www.postimees.ee/080607/esileht/siseuudised/tallinn/265168.php
Äsjasele pronkssõduri platsile tuleb lilleväljaku asemel püsiv haljasala] {{et icon}}</ref>
==== Bodies transferred to the relatives ====
On ], ], successfully identified remains of ] Bryantsev were handed over to his relatives for reburial in ], ].<ref>Postimees ], ]: {{et icon}}</ref> This was the first of the twelve exhumed bodies to be returned to relatives.
As of ], ], three remains had been released to their relatives. Claims regarding a fourth, ] Stepan Hapikalo, are pending arrival of his relatives, currently living in Ukraine, to Estonia for ] analysis. The eight bodies so far unclaimed were reburied next to the new location of the monument on that day.<ref name="mod-reburial"/><ref name="pm-reburial"/><ref name="dn-reburial"/><ref name="sl-reburial"/>
On ], ] remains of Yelena Varshavskaya were reburied at the ] in ] in the world's oldest ] cemetery. The reburial was conducted by Russia's Chief ] ].<ref>RIA Novosti ], ]: </ref>
==== Reburial of unclaimed bodies ====
Eight of the exhumed remains — those unclaimed so far — were reburied at the military cemetery, next to the relocated monument, on ], ], in presence of the Estonian minister of defence, other officials, and dozens of diplomats, as well as various press representatives.<ref name="mod-reburial"/><ref name="pm-reburial"/><ref name="dn-reburial"/><ref name="sl-reburial"/> A ] of the Russian embassy, Aleksandr Trojan, was reported as observing the event from the crowd.<ref name='pm-attache'/> The Russian ambassador to Estonia, Nikolay Uspensky, declined invitation to attend, as an expression of Russia's highest-level disapproval of "demounting the monument, the exhumation, and the accompanying attempts to revise history to suit political conjuncture".<ref name='pm-attache'>Postimees ], ]: {{et icon}}</ref> However, he attended a religious memorial service for the fallen, held by the head of the ], three hours after the reburial.<ref> Postimees ] ] {{et icon}}</ref>
==== The pillager trials ====
On ], ], the media reported of the first batch of ]s involving the prosecutors requesting non-suspended sentences.<ref>Postimees ], ]: {{et icon}}</ref> Jevgeni Kazakov, 21, who was infamously pictured as the gleeful looter clutching a half-liter bottle of Sprite, a pack of Orbit chewing gum and two packs of Libresse female sanitary pads, was convicted through the ''negotiation procedure'' (comparable to ] of ] legal systems) on ], ] and sentenced to one year in prison, with two months to be served immediately and the rest suspended for 18 months.<ref>Postimees ], ]: {{et icon}}</ref>
On ], ], the media reported that Artur Kivik, 19, was sentenced to 2 month "shock incarceration". Sven Anniko, 18, was sentenced to one year in prison suspended for 3 years. Raido, 20, had been convicted and have to pay fine of 2000 EEK. Both Sven and Raido participated in looting of Hugo Boss store and stole some wine from convenience store.<ref>rus.delfi.ee ], ]: {{ru icon}}</ref>
Another accused looter, one 23-year-old Jevgeni (last name not published), reached an agreement of conviction and sentence of immediate one-year imprisonment with the prosecutor, but withdrew from it in front of judge.<ref name='pm-jevgeni23-withdrew'>Postimees ], ]: {{et icon}}</ref> He had a suspended four-year imprisonment from an earlier conviction; this agreed conviction would have brought him a total of five years immediate real imprisonment.<ref name='pm-jevgeni23-withdrew'/> According to the Estonian laws regarding criminal proceedings, his case will now be reviewed by the prosecutor and investigators, and will likely go to a full trial afterwards.
A vandal, Sergei Dolgov, who has no Estonian citizenship but had been convicted before, was convicted in the felony of ''violation of public order during rioting'', over throwing rocks at policemen and vandalising lawn in front of ]. He was sentenced to one year of imprisonment, suspended for 18 months.<ref>] ] ]: </ref>
As of August 2007, the harshest sentence has been that of ], who was sentenced to a year of real imprisonment for looting and had an outstanding suspended sentence from an earlier conviction. Most vandals and looters have been sentenced to community service or relatively small fines, however.<ref>] ] ]: by ]</ref>
==Myths==
A number of myths about the statue, and more importantly, about events surrounding its removal, have arisen.
===Military foothold over government; excessive secrecy===
Some people ] or ] that excessive secrecy was involved in removal of the monument{{Fact|date=May 2007}}, often adding that the removal was "planned" by the Government's Security Council (translated variously to English).{{Fact|date=May 2007}} Such claims are usually backed by and other reports of the same event. This article reports that the Security Council had discussed removal of the monument, but there are no implications about the Security Council being a primary mover behind the planning. (It should be noted that the Security Council, being a part of the ] of Estonian government, can not pass laws such as the ]; its role in law-making is restricted to proposing laws.) Furthermore, the article reports that in response to journalists' more detailed questions regarding the meeting, the Government's Communications Office declared that everything discussed in the Security Council would be considered confidential, and refused further comment. It is standard practice of Estonian government and is applied to all kinds of journalistic enquiries about privileged information; a well-known recent example is refusal of public comments on the discussion with Russian ambassador to Estonia.
==Echoes==
], widely associated with the commemoration of World War II in Russia. ] sign which stood several days on a restaurant entrance in ], ].
<small>,
</small>]]
On ], ], three members of the ] movement, clothed in tent coats, proceeded to stand in for the Bronze Soldier in its former location. Estonian authorities responded by cancelling their tourism visas for non-tourism activities and deported all three to Russia.<ref> {{et icon}}</ref>
On ], ], Russian authorities expressed concern of the discrepancy between a 13-member list of burials and only 12 exhumed bodies, accusing Estonian archeologists of losing the thirteenth body.<ref>Postimees ], ]: </ref> Estonian government has refuted the claims, based on the dig's final report concluding there were no more burials in this area, and instead proposed that captain Sysoyev was mistakenly added to the 13-member list in the postwar confusion.
On ], ], in a speech delivered as a part of reburial of remains of Yelena Varshavskaya at Mount of Olives in Jerusalem, Russia's Chief Rabbi ], who conducted her reburial, denounced statements describing the Soviet soldiers as occupants.<ref>] ], ]: </ref>
The ] movement had planned pickets in Estonia on ], ], to commemorate "liberation of Tallinn from fascism". After Estonian embassy in ] refused to issue ]s for such purpose, pickets were instead held in front of the embassy.<ref>] ] ]: , edited by Oliver Tiks</ref>
==Political reaction ==
'''{{EST}}''' — President ] appealed for calm and denounced the rioters as "criminals" due to the damage they had caused:
<blockquote>"All this had nothing to do with the inviolability of graves or keeping alive the memory of men fallen in World War II"… "The common denominator of last night’s criminals was not their nationality, but their desire to riot, vandalize and plunder".<ref> by Jari Tanner, in the Washington Post, ], ]. Retrieved: 2007-04-27</ref></blockquote>
'''{{EST}}''' — Prime Minister ] said in a televised address, in Estonian and Russian, that he was forced to remove the statue after the first riots on Thursday night. He said the statue was under police guard and was safe. It and any remains would be moved to a military cemetery.
<blockquote>"We must not let the sowers of hatred become the ones to split the nation or to plant prejudice," he said. "All nationalities were respected" ... "but violence was not". The memory of dead soldiers was not served when "a picture of a drunk shoplifter is being shown all over the world." <ref> Reuters, ], ]. Retrieved: 2007-04-28</ref></blockquote>
'''{{EST}}''' — Mayor ] of the City of ] has expressed concern that removal of the monument might have constituted a breach of city property rights and have violated the ].<ref>Postimees: {{et icon}}</ref> As of ], no known legal claims to the effect have been made by the City of Tallinn against the Ministry of Defence, or the Government of the Republic of Estonia, neither through courts of law nor through the Justice Chancellor.
'''{{RUS}}''' — Belittling the WWII heroes' feats and desecrating monuments erected in their memory leads to discord and mistrust between countries and peoples, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said on Victory Day. "Those who try to belittle that priceless experience and desecrate monuments to war heroes today insult their own nations as well and sow discord and new mistrust between countries and peoples," Putin said at a parade on Red Square marking the 62nd anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.<ref> ] ], ]</ref>
'''{{RUS}}''' — The ], on ], approved a statement concerning the monument, which urges the Russian authorities to take the "toughest possible measures" against Estonia:
<blockquote>The dismantling of the monument on the eve of Victory Day on May 9 is "just one aspect of the policy, disastrous for Estonians, being conducted by provincial zealots of Nazism,"… "These admirers of Nazism forget that politicians come and go, while the peoples in neighboring countries are neighbors for eternity. The dismantling of the monument and the mockery of the remains of the fallen soldiers is just more evidence of the vengeful policy toward Russians living in Estonia and toward Russia".<ref> Interfax, ], ]. Retrieved: 2007-04-27</ref></blockquote>
'''{{RUS}}''' — First Deputy Prime Minister ] said that adequate measures, primarily, economic ones, should be taken against Estonia:
<blockquote>"In particular, Russia must speed up the construction of modern ports on Russian territory on the Baltic Sea, in the towns of ], ] and ]. Thereby, we will handle our own cargo flow and not allow other countries, including Estonia, to benefit from its transit. I have already ordered and instructed the Minister of Transport accordingly."<ref> Interfax, April 26, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-28</ref></blockquote>
'''{{EU}}''' — Although the EU has not issued an official statement, foreign policy chief ] has voiced support for Estonia and denounced violence in the wake of a night of unrest in Tallinn:
<blockquote> "Solana phoned President ] today and said the EU understands and supports Estonia", the president's adviser Toomas Sildam said.<ref name="baltictimes"> Baltic New Service, April 27, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-28</ref></blockquote>
'''{{SRB}}''' - On May 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia issued a statement:
<blockquote>"The future of Europe is also based on full commitment to shared and best pages of European history, whereas the victory over Nazism and fascism more than half a century ago undoubtedly ranks among those pages deserving lasting admiration among all in Europe and in the world."</blockquote>
<blockquote>Condemning the unilateral action by Estonian authorities on the eve of 9 May as contrary to this commitment, it states: "The highest respect for such monuments in today’s Germany is noteworthy. We in Serbia shall forever place flowers on the graves of the Red Army soldiers fallen in the battles for the liberation of Serbia and Belgrade from Nazi occupiers. We shall do so also on 9 May this year."<ref> - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of ]</ref></blockquote>
'''{{EU}}''' — On May 2, EU demanded Russia to implement the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and secure proper protection for the Estonian embassy in Moscow. EuroCommission spokesperson Christiana Homan said:
<blockquote>We share the concern about the growing tension around Estonia’s embassy, and demand that Russian authorities implement their obligations within the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations,<ref></ref></blockquote>
'''{{EU}}''' — On May 9 (Europe Day), the Estonia-Russia relations were discussed at the ].
Several members of the Parliament expressed their support for Estonia. E.g. ] said
<blockquote>I would like to join my colleagues in firstly giving our solidarity and support to the Estonian Government and to the Estonian people and, secondly, in denouncing the bully-boy tactics of the Russian Government in what they have attempted to create - the uncertainty and instability, not only within Estonia but in all the Baltic States.
In many ways what we are witnessing is a new form of totalitarianism or authoritarianism by utilisation of mobs in Moscow to attack an Embassy, by utilising the power or strength of energy to try and make people kneel to the influence of the Russian Government and, most importantly of all, by a continuing desire to keep imposing symbols of domination and of subjugation in areas that have gained their independence from totalitarian regimes. Finally, may I say, a most ardent call should go out to the citizens of Estonia to show them that now that they are part of the European Union, they will not be abandoned as they were abandoned previously.
<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-6502-129-05-19-901-20070509IPR06501-09-05-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm|title=13 Nobel Prize winners, MEPs support Estonia / support for Northern Ireland new government|accessdate=2007-08-01|date=2007-05-09|publisher=European Parliament}}</ref>
</blockquote>
On 10th of May the EU parliament adopted by a great majority a formal resolution criticizing Russia's human rights record. Estonia's question centered the debate with MEPs representing various political groups showing strong support for Estonia. Joseph Daul, leader of the biggest European party EPP-DE claimed that the EU is united with regard to the issue:
<blockquote>
"today, we are all Estonians"
</blockquote>
<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/008-6352-129-05-19-901-20070507STO06336-2007-09-05-2007/default_en.htm|title=Wednesday in Plenary: EU's relations with Russia centre stage|date=2007-05-10|accessdate=2007-08-01|publisher=European Parliament}}</ref>
'''{{BLR}}''' — On April 27, Belarusian MFA Press Secretary Andrei Popov in his Comments on the Events in Estonia said that
<blockquote>"Belarus is the country that lost every third of its citizens during the Second World War. Any outrage upon the memory of the victims of that war causes us the sentiments of deep indignation and regret. ... We believe that today it is obvious to everybody that the irresponsible actions of the authorities were the major cause for such dramatic events. We regret that the Estonian leadership has failed to have enough political wisdom not to fight the dead. ... We are also outraged with the unjustified and brutal use of force by the Estonian police towards peaceful demonstrators that led to escalated violence and unrest in the Estonian capital." <ref>http://www.mfa.gov.by/eng/index.php?id=1&d=press/news&news_id=4287</ref></blockquote>
'''{{flag|NATO}}''' - NATO statement on Estonia:
<blockquote>] is deeply concerned by threats to the physical safety of Estonian diplomatic staff, including the Ambassador, in Moscow, as well as intimidation at the Estonian Embassy. These actions are unacceptable, and must be stopped immediately; tensions over the Soviet war memorial and graves in Estonia must be resolved diplomatically between the two countries. NATO urges the Russian authorities to implement their obligations under the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations.
'''{{flag|UN}}''' — UN Secretary-General ] has called on Russia and Estonia to resolve their dispute over the removal of a Soviet war memorial from the Estonian capital:
<blockquote>The Secretary-General regrets the violence and the loss of life in Tallinn, Estonia. He appeals to all concerned to deal with the issues at hand in a spirit of respect and conciliation.<ref></ref></blockquote>
'''{{LAT}}''' — The Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs "strongly condemns acts of vandalism in Tallinn which took place over night between 26 and 27 April" according to their press release:
<blockquote>"In a democratic country, any group of society which disagrees with government decisions is free to express its own opinion, however, it must not violate the law. Acts of vandalism which pose a threat to the life and health of people and damage and destroy property have nothing in common with the democratic forms of protest."<ref> Press release, April 27, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-27</ref></blockquote>
'''{{LTU}}''' — President of the Republic of Lithuania ] announced that Lithuania is concerned and watching over the events in Tallinn and that it fully supports the positions of the Estonian government.
<blockquote>"There is no doubt that respect should be shown to the memory of the fallen soldiers. However, the Soviet Army didn't bring freedom to the Baltic states, so can we blame Estonia if the Soviet soldiers' remains from a central Tallinn square are reinterred in another cemetery? <ref> Press release, April 29, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-29</ref> "
</blockquote>
'''{{LTU}}''' — Lithuanian Sejm unanimously passed a statement in Estonia’s support, calling Russia’s response to the Bronze Soldier’s removal an:
<blockquote>"interference into Estonia’s domestic affairs”. “Considering the events in Tallinn, and the interior and international tension they caused, Sejm of Lithuania stands together with the Estonian government on the issue of moving the monument to Soviet soldiers from the center of Estonia’s capital to a war memorial,"<ref name="West Takes Estonia Personally. The U.S., NATO, and the EU condemned Russia, Kommersant, May 04, 2007">http://www.kommersant.com/p763429/Estonia/</ref></blockquote>
'''{{FIN}}''' — ] ] noted that the "...demonstrations and riots are of course an interior matter of Estonia," in an interview given to television:
<blockquote>"Finland nor other countries do not have to get involved. As they are occurring in an area near Finland, then we will of course keep a very close eye on them."<ref> Delfi, April 27, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-27</ref></blockquote>
<blockquote>"It is not part of international etiquette for politicians to request the resignation of a foreign government's ministry, it just doesn't suit"<ref>{{cite news |author=Aivar Õepa |date=] |title=Soome peaminister arvustas Venemaa käitumist monumenditülis |publisher=] {{et icon}} |url=http://www.postimees.ee/010507/esileht/valisuudised/258098.php |accessdate=2007-05-01 }}</ref></blockquote>
'''{{POL}}''' — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement, hoping that clashes in Estonia would calm down. The ministry also called on the European Union to show support for Estonia, saying:
<blockquote>" should not be left to stand alone" ... "Yet again the difficult history is casting a shadow on relations between states and nations and ethnic groups".<ref>http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2007-04/29/content_6043571.htm</ref></blockquote>
'''{{POL}}''' — President ] held a two telephone conversations with Estonian President Toomas Ilves, during which he expressed support for actions made by Estonian authorities and declared Poland will make appropriate actions within European Union to support Estonia. Among other topics, conversation also involved the situation of Estonian Embassy in Moscow.<ref>http://wiadomosci.gazeta.pl/wiadomosci/1,53600,4101086.html</ref>.
'''{{POL}}''' - The Polish Minister of Culture ] has confirmed on 30th of April that symbols of the communist dictatorship will be removed from the streets all over the country. He said that, on May 15, a new law will go into effect that will make it easier for local authorities to remove communist symbols <ref>http://www.postchronicle.com/news/breakingnews/article_21277903.shtml</ref>. However, this law will not apply to cemeteries. <ref>http://serwisy.gazeta.pl/kraj/1,34397,4114069.html</ref>
'''{{GER}}''' — Although ] has not issued an official statement, Finnish newspaper ] reported that German ] ] phoned both ] and ] and asked that the parliaments of the two countries start discussions over the conflict.<ref>. Retrieved: 2007-04-28</ref>
'''{{UKR}}''' — On May 1, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine ] in his comments on the situation, which emerged following dismantling of the memorial of the Soldier Liberator in the centre of Tallinn, said that "Ukraine advocates the soonest resolution of temporary misunderstandings in bilateral relations of Russia and Estonia." Arseniy Yatsenyuk stressed the necessity to hold procedure of removal of the memorial in accordance with existing standards, rendering the necessary honours to soldiers of the Second World War. At the same time he urged to respect position of Estonian authorities as well.<ref></ref>
'''{{SWE}}''' — Minister of Foreign Affairs ] said that what is happening in Estonia is an internal matter and that the outcome forms an intricate part of Estonia's independence. He has faith in the Estonians to sort it out and believes it to be important that they do so themselves, without international interference.
<ref>http://http://www.dn.se/DNet/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=148&a=644699</ref> Carl Bildt also pointed out that he "understands why the popular reaction about the statue has been so sharp":
<blockquote>"If somebody had erected a statue of King ] in ] 500 years after ] of 1520], it would also have been a subject of controversy.<ref>, by Clas Svahn, in the Dagens Nyheter, April 29, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-30</ref></blockquote>
'''{{NOR}}''' — ] ] announced that both sides should stop the violence and start respecting each other.<ref> Aftenposten, April 27, 2007. Retrieved: 2007-04-27</ref></blockquote>
'''{{KGZ}}''' — On April 27 the Kyrgyz Parliament condemned the dismantling of the monument, calling it "an act against history." <ref>http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11478851&PageNum=0</ref>{{Fact|date=July 2007}}
'''{{USA}}''' - On May 2, ]'s ] released a press statement, stating that "ecisions on placement of the memorial to soldiers who died fighting the Nazis in World War II belong to the Estonian government" and expressing concern about continuing reports of violence and harassment, including harassment of Estonian diplomatic personnel and premises in Moscow.<ref>, May 2, 2007</ref>
'''{{USA}}''' - On May 3, the United States Senate expressed "its strong support for Estonia as a sovereign state and a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as it deals with matters internal to its country".<ref>{{cite web|title=2007 Congression Record, page S5610|url=http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?dbname=2007_record&page=S5610&position=all|date=], ]}}</ref>
'''{{GEO}}''' - Georgia expressed support to Estonia:
The Georgian Parliament passed a resolution on May 8th condemning the attempts to provoke riots and facts of hooliganism in the streets of Estonian towns following a row over the relocation of a Soviet memorial in Tallinn. The resolution also condemned violent actions against the Estonian diplomats carried out protesters outside the Estonian embassy in Moscow. The Georgian Parliament fully supports measures undertaken by the Estonian authorities to restore order,” the resolution reads. <ref>http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=15079</ref>
<blockquote>“Georgia also categorically condemns Russia’s inability to end assaults on the Estonian embassy in Moscow and on the Estonian Ambassador”</blockquote> according to Georgian Parliament’s speaker Nino Burjanadze, who added that Russia’s constant intervention into Estonia’s domestic affairs violates international conventions<ref name="West Takes Estonia Personally. The U.S., NATO, and the EU condemned Russia, Kommersant, May 04, 2007">http://www.kommersant.com/p763429/Estonia/</ref><ref name="Eestit toetanud välisriigid pronkssõduri küsimuses, Postimees, May 04, 2007">http://www.postimees.ee/050507/esileht/siseuudised/258556.php</ref>
'''{{EST}}'''Responding to the Vladimir Putin statement, Estonian PM Andrus Ansip claimed that by referring to desecration Mr Putin may have meant the ], removed along with the graves by the local administration of Moscow suburb Khimki just prior to Estonia's events <ref>http://www.postimees.ee/100507/esileht/siseuudised/259928.php</ref>. Remains from Khimki memorial had been reburied with military honours several days before both Putin's and Ansip's statements<ref></ref>.
'''{{ISR}}''' — ], at that time vice premier, currently ], noted that the matter was "Estonia's internal matter, and foreigners should be careful with their comments about it," to journalists when visiting Tallinn to inaugurate a synagogue. He also noted that "The government has handled it with great care and great wisdom and the conclusion is positive." <ref name= Peres></ref>
'''{{EU}}''' — On May 24, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in which it expressed support for and solidarity with Estonia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+TA+P6-TA-2007-0215+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN |title=European Parliament resolution of 24 May 2007 on Estonia |publisher=European Parliament |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-26}}</ref>
===Other reaction ===
<!--- This section is for notable reaction which do not directly represent a government position --->
<!--- Please, use of state flags (to indictate nationality) in this section - do NOT use the {{state template}} ---->
{{flagicon|Germany}}<!---use of "{{GER}}" not correct in this context as Schroeder is a high rep. of Gazprom ---> ], former ] Chancellor (socialist, ]) and current chairman of a shareholders' committee of ] controlled by the Russian ], said that the removal was insulting to Russians who died fighting Nazi Germany:
<blockquote>"The way Estonia is dealing with the memory of young Russian soldiers who lost their lives in the fight against fascism is in bad taste and irreverent"<ref>{{cite news |author = ] |title = German ex-chancellor condemns Estonia war memorial removal | publisher = Monsters and Critics.com |date = ] |url = http://news.monstersandcritics.com/europe/news/article_1297380.php/German_ex-chancellor_condemns_Estonia_war_memorial_removal |accessdate = 2007-05-01}}</ref><ref>As a reaction, ] cancelled the scheduled meeting (May 8) with ]. - http://www.epl.ee/uudised/384052</ref></blockquote>
{{flagicon|Tajikistan}} The ] Council of War Veterans condemned the removal of the statue, stating, "Estonian bureaucrats are behaving like fascists."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.rian.ru/world/20070427/64511470.html||title=Russia's upper house calls for cutting ties with Estonia|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2007-04-30}} {{ru icon}}</ref>
{{flagicon|Poland}} ] Committee (relatives of Polish officers, who were executed on the orders of the Soviet authorities in the village of Katyn) in ], said:
<blockquote>"'''' suffered from the ], while Soviet monuments have always been the symbol of slavery and lies, as well as Russian ]. The Katyn Committee expresses solidarity with the sovereign government of Estonia and approves its decision to remove the Soviet monuments, sites of the 'Red' empire. We are indignant at Russian official statements threatening to cut off diplomatic ties with Estonia."<ref>http://en.rian.ru/world/20070428/64633570.html</ref><ref>http://www.postimees.ee/290407/esileht/valisuudised/257827.php</ref></blockquote>
{{flagicon|Russia}} On April 28 three large Russian supermarket networks: ], ] and ] banned all Estonian commodities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2007/04/28/supermarkets/|title=Three large supermarket networks boycott Estonian commodities|publisher=]|date=]|accessdate=2007-04-29}} {{ru icon}}</ref>
{{flagicon|Estonia}} The Mayor of Tallinn and the oppositional ] chairman ] condemned the disproportional use of force by the police stating that there is ''no explanation why several policemen should apply physical force against a handcuffed detainee''<ref> DELFI ] ]</ref>. He also stated that the central government should compensate the city of Tallinn the losses caused by the unrest over the relocation of the monument. According the Savisaar the direct losses exceed 40..50 million ]s (2.5 - 3 million ])<ref> DELFI 27 апреля 2007 </ref> As a reaction to his statement (disapproved of by many leading Estonian politicians), the Estonian National Movement started to collect signatures on Internet for Mayor Savisaar's resignation.<ref></ref>
{{flagicon|Russia}} On May 1 ] Mayor ] has proposed to boycott everything related to Estonia for "actions taken against the Bronze Soldier Monument and graves of our soldiers". He said that Russian companies should cut their relations with partners in Estonia. "One should tell our business: stop contacts with Estonia. The country showed its negative, and I would say fascist face," the mayor said, adding: "No one will be able to re-write the history." <ref>http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/politics/28.html?id_issue=11725038</ref>
''']:'''
<blockquote>"According to media reports as well as reports received by the IHF, police in some cases used disproportionate force against riot participants. Some protesters were reportedly hit with batons, beaten and mistreated after being taken into custody in a temporary detention facility established in a terminal at the Tallinn port. Some cases of apparent police brutality were documented by TV broadcasts and cell phone recordings.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
The riots in Tallinn and other Estonian cities have served to highlight remaining problems relating to the integration of the country’s Russian-speaking minority, which constitutes about one third of the 1.4 million residents. Despite a number of important legislative reforms since the first years of independence, this minority is still not officially recognized as a ] and continues to face discrimination and exclusion in everyday life, thus fostering frustration and resentment among its members. Many Russian-speakers still lack Estonian citizenship, Russian-language education has gradually been reduced and stringent language requirements restrict access to the labor market for Russian-speakers. "<ref>http://www.ihf-hr.org/viewbinary/viewhtml.php?doc_id=7532</ref></blockquote>
{{flagicon|Russia}} The veteran politician and human rights activist ] writes in the ] newspaper '']''<ref>Text of the article </ref> that Russia's position is hypocritical and implies ]. In his opinion Russia opposes the removal of the monument because it is still led by successors of the Stalinist era, who have never apologized to the ] for having turned it into a ].<ref>summarised </ref>
{{flagicon|Estonia}} Estonian media expert ] compares heavy criticism and calls to discharge of sociologist ], who called for resignation of Estonian government, to an attempt of the Ansip government to establish "üks rahvas, üks riik, üks juht" ("one people, one state, one leader") ideology referring to the notorious citation "]" by ] and states that sociologists must have full freedom of speech <ref name=Tammerek> ] ] ] </ref>.
{{flagicon|Estonia}} ] the current ] of the ], said that it was right thing for defending grave peace to rebury Soviet soldiers' remains to cemetery and also remove memorial which had became symbol of occupation and ground of political provocations.<ref name=Põder> ] ] ]</ref>.
{{flagicon|Estonia}} Artur Taevere, founder of ''Heateo Sihtasutus'', and other young volunteers have started a campaign "Valge tulp / Белый тюльпан",<ref>{{cite web |title=Valge tulp / Белый тюльпан |url=http://whitetulips2007.blogspot.com/ |publisher=Blogspot |accessdate=2007-05-07}}</ref> asking Estonians and Russians to place white ]s at sites that are of emotional value to members of the other ethnic community to counteract the bad feelings that the events have caused.<ref>{{cite news |title=Призыв к эстонцам и русским: дарите друг другу белые тюльпаны |url=http://rus.postimees.ee/060507/glavnaja/estonija/15868.php |publisher=Postimees Online |accessdate=2007-05-07}}</ref>
{{flagicon|Russia}} On May 7 Chief Rabbi of Russia ] has called on the Estonian authorities to review their position regarding the reburial of the remains of Soviet soldiers in Tallinn. He said that "When Nazism unfortunately rears its ugly head in Europe today and as there have been attempts to deny the Holocaust, Estonia is acting in a manner that insults memory, which alarms us". He added that "The Jewish people will always regard what the Soviet soldiers did as a heroic feat" In addition, Jews consider remains of those people "holy, and reburial is allowed only in exceptional cases."<ref>http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2993</ref>
{{flagicon|Russia}} On May 1 ] of Moscow and All Russia, who was born in Tallinn, said after a service at Moscow's Intercession Monastery that The Estonian government's struggle against the memory of soldiers who fell in battle against fascism is indecent. "Fighting against the dead, against the soldiers who have always been honored by all nations, is the most unworthy deed. It is immoral to profane the memory of the dead", he said. "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. This is what Christ our Savior said." The Patriarch added that "When (Estonian) political leaders use the words as “drunkards” and “marauders”, it is unworthy of the politician or a statesman.<ref>http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2982</ref>
{{flagicon|Russia}} On May 3 The Russian Congress of Jewish Religious Organizations and Associations (]) issued a statement criticizing the Estonian government for relocating a Soviet WWII memorial in Tallinn and for alleged Nazi sympathies. "The demonstratively defiant form in which the Estonian authorities have dismantled the Monument to the Liberator Warrior and are relocating the nearby grave of soldiers who gave their lives fighting fascism is not an accidental or spontaneous act," the KEROOR said in a statement. "Estonian authorities prefer to gloss over the fact that punitive detachments and the Estonian SS legion killed between 120,000 and 140,000 Russians, Jews, Ukrainians, Belarusians, Gypsies, and people of other ethnic groups during 1941-1944."<ref>http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=2991</ref>
{{flagicon|Israel}} On April 30 ] criticized the removal from the center of Tallinn to a military cemetery by the Estonian government late last week of "a Soviet memorial commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany", which had stood for decades in the center of the Estonian capital". In a statement issued in Jerusalem by its chief Nazi-hunter, ] director Dr. ], the Center asserted that the removal of the monument minimizes the severity of the crimes of the Holocaust in Estonia and insults the Nazis' victims in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wiesenthal.com/site/apps/s/content.asp?c=fwLYKnN8LzH&b=253162&ct=3833035 |title=Wiesenthal Center: Removal by Estonian Government of Soviet-Era Memorial From City Center Reflects Lack of Sensitivity to Nazi Crimes and Insults Their Victims |publisher=] |date=] |accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref>
{{flagicon|Russia}} Russian professor of economy, ], condemned the relocation of Bronze Soldier in '']'' article on ] ], saying that not only "the Estonian government clearly did not show its best side", but also "journalists who wrote of the "Russian monster" in an editorial published in one of Estonia's most popular newspapers crossed all conceivable limits of journalistic etiquette and political correctness". The author discussed possible alternative ways for Russian response to such hostile actions. These could be limiting temporarily access to the memorial to the victims of the violent resettlement of the Baltic peoples or reducing funding for taking care of certain halls within the ]. Sonin concludes that implementation of these methods is so far impossible, because Russia does not have any such monuments to the suffering of people from other countries<ref name=Sonin> ] ] ] </ref>
{{flagicon|Russia}} On May 9 longtime human rights activist and WWII veteran ] called on Russians to acknowledge that the victory did not result in the liberation for many countries, including the Baltic nations. "We didn't liberate anyone, we weren't even able to liberate ourselves, although for four difficult years of war we hoped for it. We even said 'After the war, if we survive it, all life will be different.' It didn't happen; not in 1945, not in 1991!" she wrote in an e-mailed statement.<ref name= Bonner>{{cite news |title=Putin, makes veiled warning to Estonia about Soviet memorial |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/05/09/europe/EU-GEN-Russia-Victory-Day.php |publisher=] |page=2 |date=] |accessdate=2007-07-21 }}</ref> <ref name= Bonner2> ] ] ] </ref>
==See also==
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*], another controversial monument in Estonia
*], a controversial monument in Latvia
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== References ==
== References ==
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==External links==
== External links ==
{{wikinews|One killed in clashes over World War monument in Estonia}}
{{wikiquote|Andrus Ansip}}
{{wikiquote|Andrus Ansip}}
{{Commons category|Bronze Soldier of Tallinn}}
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* (9 May 2005; 9 May 2007)
* – Round table on Estonian State TV (ETV) 7 May 2007. in Russian with Estonian subtitles.
* ] ] and comments from residents of Tallinn about what happened]
* Scientific studies about the historical background of the monument, compiled into a "Historical statement", by Peeter Kaasik, for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia, 2006. (Translation into English)
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* - Press release of the Government of Estonia
* - Analysis by Estonian ''International Centre for Defence Studies''
* ]-] ]] (News bulletin of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Estonia) (ISSN 1023-1951)
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===Diplomacy===
* (Unofficial translation of the into English)
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Latest revision as of 15:31, 19 January 2025
Controversial Soviet World War II memorial in Tallinn, Estonia
The Bronze Soldier after Victory Day celebrations in 2024
The Bronze Soldier (Estonian: Pronkssõdur, Russian: Бронзовый солдат, romanized: Bronzovyy soldat) is the informal name of a controversial SovietWorld War IIwar memorial in Tallinn, Estonia, built at the site of several war graves, which were relocated to the nearby Tallinn Military Cemetery in 2007. It was originally named "Monument to the Liberators of Tallinn" (Estonian: Tallinna vabastajate monument, Russian: Монумент освободителям Таллина, romanized: Monument osvoboditelyam Tallina), was later titled to its current official name "Monument to the Fallen in the Second World War", and is sometimes called Alyosha, or Tõnismäe monument after its old location. The memorial was unveiled on 22 September 1947, three years after the Red Army reached Tallinn on 22 September 1944 during World War II.
The monument consists of a stonewall structure made of dolomite and a two-metre (6.5 ft) bronzestatue of a soldier in a World War II-era Red Army military uniform. It was originally located in a small park (during the Soviet years called the Liberators' Square) on Tõnismägi in central Tallinn, above a small burial site of Soviet soldiers' remains, reburied in April 1945.
In April 2007, the Estonian government relocated the Bronze Soldier and, after their exhumation and identification, the remains of the Soviet soldiers, to the Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn. Not all remains were reburied there, as relatives were given a chance to claim them, and several bodies were reburied in various locations in the former Soviet Union according to the wishes of the relatives.
Political differences over the interpretation of the events of the war symbolised by the monument had already led to a controversy between Estonia's community of polyethnic Russophone post-World War II immigrants and Estonians, as well as between Russia and Estonia. The disputes surrounding the relocation peaked with two nights of riots in Tallinn (known as the Bronze Night), besieging of the Estonian embassy in Moscow for a week, and cyberattacks on Estonian organizations. The events caught international attention and led to a multitude of political reactions.
The monument was originally erected by Soviet authorities in Estonia to the liberators of Tallinn who entered the city on 22 September 1944. German Army units in the city retreated rather than seeking to defend it. Instead, the National Committee of the Republic of Estonia attempted to re-establish Estonian independence by taking power in Tallinn, and by proclaiming Provisional Government of Estonia and declaring re-establishment of the country's independence on 18 September 1944. By the time the Red Army entered Tallinn, they were entering an already-empty city with an independent government, hence occupying Tallinn.
The Bronze Soldier monument replaced a preceding wooden memorial – a one-metre-high, wooden pyramid, about 20 cm in diameter, of a plain blue color crowned by a red star – that had been blown up on the night of 8 May 1946 by two Estonian teenagers. The two girls, 14-year-old Aili Jürgenson and 15-year-old Ageeda Paavel destroyed it, in their own words, to avenge the Soviet destruction of war memorials to the Estonian War of Independence. Both were later arrested by the NKVD and sent to the Gulag.
Building and design
The monument in its original urban context
The Bronze Soldier monument, with its figure of a soldier against a stone background, was created in 1947 by Enn Roos and supervising architect Arnold Alas. It was unveiled on 22 September 1947, on the third anniversary of the Soviet Red Army re-entering Tallinn in 1944. Originally intended as an official war memorial to Soviet soldiers who died fighting in World War II, an eternal flame was added in front of the monument in 1964. The Soviet liberation theme was changed when Estonia re-established independence in 1991, now stating "For those fallen in World War II"; at the same time, the flame was extinguished.
Prototype
Map of the site
The prototype for the face and figure of the statue is not known. It has been suggested to have been the Estonian 1936 Olympic gold medal wrestlerKristjan Palusalu, as there is a resemblance. The sculptor Enn Roos denied this and instead suggested that he used "a young worker who lived nearby", and there have been claims the worker he is referring to was a carpenter named Albert Johannes Adamson.
On the other hand, Palusalu's daughter, Helle Palusalu, has claimed that her father served as a model for the statue. Roos's denial could have been motivated by Palusalu's having defected from the Soviet military and thus having fallen into disfavour with the Communist Party.
Burial site
On 25 September 1944, the remains of two Soviet soldiers were buried in the centre of the Tõnismägi hill, with additional remains of Soviet soldiers reburied there in April 1945. After the burial of the Red Army soldiers on Tõnismägi, the square was named Liberators' Square on 12 June 1945 with the Bronze Soldier Monument added two years later. The exact number and names of the persons buried in the burial grounds under the monument had not been established with certainty before the excavations of 2007, although the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had ordered a comprehensive historical investigation in 2006. According to official records of the Military Commissariat of the Baltic Military District, however, the following 13 soldiers who fell during World War II were reburied in the grounds in April 1945:
Lieutenant Colonel Mikhail Kulikov (Михаил Петрович Куликов) — commander of the 657th regiment, born in 1909 in Morshansk, Tambov Oblast. Killed on 22 September 1944.
Captain Ivan Sysoyev (Иван Михайлович Сысоев) — political commissar of the 657th regiment, born in 1909 in village Topsa, Arkhangelsk Oblast. Killed on 22 September 1944.
Gefreiter (Senior Private) Dmitri Belov — 125th division (killed in a battle 45 km from Tallinn in September 1944)
Colonel Konstantin Kolesnikov (Константин Павлович Колесников) — second commander of 125th division (killed on 21 September 1944 in a battle 45 km from Tallinn). Born in 1897 in Zhilaya Kosa, Stalingrad Oblast.
Captain Ivan Serkov (Иван Степанович Серков) — chief of intelligence, 79th light artillery brigade (killed on 21 September 1944, in a battle 45 km from Tallinn). Born in 1922, Ryazan Oblast.
Major Vasili Kuznetsov (Василий Иванович Кузнецов) — commander of 1222nd artillery regiment. Born in 1908 in Ivanovo Oblast. Killed on 22 September 1944.
Lieutenant Vasili Volkov (Василий Егорович Волков) — commander of mortar platoon (125th division). Born in 1923 in Kalinin Oblast. Killed on 22 September 1944.
Captain Aleksei Bryantsev (Алексей Матвеевич Брянцев) — 125th division. Born in 1917 in Altai Krai. Killed on 22 September 1944.
Sergeant Stepan Hapikalo (Степан Илларионович Хапикало) — tank commander of the 26th tank regiment (according to official military sources died of a disease). Born in 1920 in Poltava Oblast. Died on 28 September 1944.
First Sergeant, medic Yelena Varshavskaya (Елена Михайловна Варшавская) — division medical assistant of 40th Guard Mortars regiment (died 22 or 23 September 1944 in Tallinn). Born in 1925 in Poltava Oblast.
A visitor to the monument in 1970, with the eternal flame and sentriesSergeant Aleksandr Grigorov – died 7 March 1945
Lieutenant Colonel Kotelnikov – no information available
Lieutenant I. Lukanov – no information available
According to the Estonian Ministry of Defence, the remains of 12 persons had been exhumed by 2 May 2007 and would be reburied by the end of June 2007 at the same cemetery where the statue had been relocated. Furthermore, the archaeologists performing the digs confirmed that no more burials have taken place on the grounds of the monument.
The Russian embassy and other former USSR states were asked to provide DNA samples for the identification of the buried bodies. Those persons who can be identified were to be turned over to their relatives for reburial.
The initial DNA analysis revealed 11 male and 1 female among those 12 found at the site. DNA profiles of all 12 were turned over to the embassy of the Russian Federation in Tallinn.
According to historian Alexander Daniel, the Bronze Soldier has symbolic value to Estonia's Russians, symbolising not only Soviet victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War, but also their claim to rights in Estonia. Most Estonians considered the Bronze Soldier a symbol of Soviet occupation and repression following World War II.
The Bronze Soldier monument, with the stone structure reconstructed, at its new permanent location, June 2007
In 2006, the conservativePro Patria Union petitioned the Tallinn City Council to demolish the monument, which saw the Estonian president in January 2007 vetoing a bill which would have allowed for its destruction and instead ordering its removal from the city centre. In February 2007, Estonian nationalists unsuccessfully attempted to place on the statue a wreath made of barbed wire decorated with a plaque saying "Murderers of the Estonian People".
Amid political controversy, in April 2007 the newly elected Ansipgovernment started final preparations for the reburial of the remains and relocation of the statue, according to the political mandate received during the March 2007 elections. The government claimed that the location of the memorial at a busy intersection in Tallinn was not a proper resting place, which led to critics to accuse the government of pandering to Estonian nationalist groups. Disagreement over the appropriateness of the action led to mass protests and riots (accompanied by looting) lasting two nights, the worst Estonia has seen.
In the early morning hours of 27 April 2007, after the first night's rioting, the government decided, at an emergency meeting, to dismantle the monument immediately, referring to security concerns. By the following afternoon the stone structure had been dismantled as well. As of the afternoon of 30 April, the statue without the stone structure had been placed at the Defence Forces Cemetery of Tallinn. An opening ceremony for the relocated statue was held on 8 May, VE Day. (Significantly, Red Army veterans celebrate Victory Day a day later, on 9 May.) During June 2007 the stone structure was rebuilt. Relatives have made claims to bodies of four of the war dead. Unclaimed remains were reburied at the military cemetery, next to the relocated monument, on 3 July 2007.
On 27 April 2007, alongside the riots, there was also a huge and coordinated cyber-attack on Estonian institutions, including its Parliament, banks, and newspaper agencies. Although the Estonian government blamed Kremlin, no direct evidence could be produced.
Vandalization in protest of the Russian attack on Ukraine
The Bronze Soldier of Tallinn monument, vandalized in protest of the Russian attack on Ukraine, 12 April 2022.
On 12 April 2022, the Bronze Soldier entered the news again, when protesters of the Russian attack on Ukraine ground one of the medals off its chest. This came in the context of a governmental ban on symbols of Russian militarism and public meetings which incite violence, leading up to the anniversary of May 9.
Gallery
Flowers and police at the old location of the monument, 9 May 2007
Flowers at the old location of the monument, 9 May 2007, with the excavation tent in the background
^ Sinisalu, Arnold. "Propaganda, Information War and the Estonian-Russian Treaty Relations: Some Aspects of International Law". Juridica International. Retrieved 4 April 2009. The Bronze Soldier memorial was erected to the soldiers of the Soviet Union who presumably died in conquering Tallinn in 1944. It is a historical fact that when withdrawing from Tallinn on 22 September 1944, the German Army did not engage in any battles with the Red Army heading for the city. Instead, the advancing Russian units encountered the Estonian flag flying in the tower of Tall Hermann, a symbol of State power in Tallinn, there were no casualties.
^ Bulletin of international news. Royal Institute of International Affairs, Information Department. 1944. p. 825. Estonia. Sept. 21. - Patriots in Tallinn reassumed Estonian control over Cathedral Hill, with the Government buildings, and proclaimed a national Government headed by Otto Tief, who ordered the German forces to leave and appealed to the Russians to recognize Estonian independence.
Wertsch, James V. (2008). "Collective Memory and Narrative Templates". Social Research: An International Quarterly. 75 (1): 133–156. doi:10.1353/sor.2008.0051. S2CID141826300.
^ James V., Wertsch. "A Clash of Deep Memories". Profession (8). MLA Journals: 46–53. ISSN0740-6959.
Solvak, Mihkel; Pettai, Vello (September 2008). "The parliamentary elections in Estonia, March 2007". Electoral Studies. 27 (3): 574–577. doi:10.1016/j.electstud.2008.01.004. The new government faced its first test a month after the elections when, on 26 April, Ansip carried out his promise to have the Bronze Soldier removed
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Flowers and police at the old location of the monument, 9 May 2007
Flowers at the old location of the monument, 9 May 2007, with the excavation tent in the background
First Victory Day at the new location, 9 May 2007
Second Victory Day at the new location, 9 May 2008
Flowers on the old site of the monument 9 May 2008
