Estonian govt decides to remove all Soviet-era monuments from public space

TALLINN. Aug 4 (Interfax) - The Estonian government decided at its meeting on Thursday to remove Soviet-era monuments from the public space.

"At the government's meeting, we discussed in detail how to proceed with the removal of monuments to symbols of the occupation authorities from public space. According to estimates, their number in Estonia ranges from 200 to 400. What counts most is that a decision was adopted to remove 'red' monuments from the public space, and we will do it as promptly as possible," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said at a press conference.

Since monuments are a matter for local authorities, "a specific timeframe and a procedure depend on the readiness and logistics of the local authorities," Kallas said.

Kallas also focused on the T-34 tank monument in the city of Narva near the border with Russia, as more than 90% of the city's population are Russian-speaking people, and most of them do not want this monument to be dismantled.

For instance, several dozen people were seen near the monument on Wednesday and in the early hours of Thursday. According to police, their behavior was peaceful and calm, but the government does not rule out that the removal of this monument may cause tensions in society.

"At present, this tank belongs to the city of Narva. But, since it is clear that Narva itself will not dismantle it, that tensions will erupt because of it, it is clear that the government should assume responsibility and relocate this and other monuments that have symbolic meaning," the prime minister said.

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told the ERR Estonian television and radio company on Thursday that, should such a need arise, the government should convene a special meeting in order to secure the soonest possible relocation of the T-34 tank monument.

"The tank should be removed within a month," Reinsalu said.

Plans in April 2007 to take down the Soviet-era Bronze Soldier statue in Tallinn sparked a crisis, during which a large number of the city's Russian-speaking residents voiced their opposition to such plans, he said. Russian citizen Dmitry Ganin, who permanently resided in Estonia, died as a result of those events.

"Recalling the Bronze Soldier saga, it is a negative thing that the conflict had been allowed to grow ripe for a year. Since the government did not make a decision, thousands of people gathered there to express their opinion," Reinsalu said.

Mass disturbances erupted in Estonia on April 26-28, 2007, after the government announced a decision to rebury the remains of Soviet soldiers from the common grave on Tonismagi Hill in the center of Tallinn and to relocate a monument to Soviet Soldiers (the Bronze Soldier statue) from the city center to a military cemetery. The April 2007 unrest is also known as the Bronze Nights. The Russian- speaking population of Estonia perceived the move as an insult to the memory of the fallen soldiers. About 1,200 people were detained, some 50 sustained injuries, and one Russian citizen, Dmitry Ganin, was killed during the disturbances, which then escalated into mass riots. Those behind Ganin's death have not yet been found. The Russian Foreign Ministry has raised this issue on a number of occasions.