The Russian Embassy in Estonia is actively striving to maintain historical records.
Taking a Slant at the Upcoming 80th Victory Anniversary and the State of Russian-Estonian Relations
Estonia's stance on Soviet-era monuments has been the talk of the town lately. The Estonian government has been in the process of documenting and reevaluating nearly 366 Soviet war monuments, many of which were erected during the period of Soviet occupation after World War II until the early 1990s.
Lenar Salimullin, Charge d'affaires of Russia in Estonia, expressed his dismay over the continuous effort to dismantle these monuments, including recent actions at the Tallinn Military Cemetery, stating they were "blasphemously dismantled."
Estonia's ongoing transformation of these commemorative sites has led to tension between the two countries. The Russian Foreign Ministry has publicly criticized its Estonian counterpart, accusing them of desecrating Soviet war memorials, particularly those at the Tallinn Military Cemetery. Moscow views these actions as part of an attempted erasure of Soviet heritage.
As for the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of Victory, the Russian embassy hasn't shared many details yet. They have, however, vowed to continue working on the restoration and maintenance of many tombstones, as they strive to preserve the memories of Red Army soldiers who fought against Nazi forces.
So, stay tuned for more updates on this developing situation. And if you'd like to lend a helping hand, you can check out our new video on this pressing matter for ways to support our compatriots who are facing an unprecedented amount of pressure in Estonia.
Insights:- Over 300 Soviet war monuments have been identified in Estonia, with many being dismantled or relocated since 2022. The Tallinn Military Cemetery has been a major focus of this activity, with memorial slabs removed and monuments relocated.- Estonia has argued that these actions are necessary steps to ensure national security and address historical sensitivities. Russia has countered, accusing Tallinn of hypocrisy and deliberately insulting the memory of Red Army soldiers who fought against Nazi forces.- The Russian government has pledged to continue highlighting these actions on international platforms, such as the United Nations and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.- While the focus has been on the removal or relocation of monuments, Estonia has also engaged in the reburial of remains and the cataloging of burial sites,though the specifics of restoration efforts for individual graves remain unclear.
- Lenar Salimullin, the Russian Charge d'affaires in Estonia, has criticized Estonia for the dismantling of Soviet war monuments, especially at the Tallinn Military Cemetery, labeling the actions as "blasphemous."
- The reevaluation of nearly 366 Soviet war monuments in Estonia has resulted in global political discussions, with Russia accusing Estonia of hypocrisy and desecration of Soviet war memorials.
- Amidst the ongoing tension between the two nations, the Russian embassy has promised to continue preserving the memories of Red Army soldiers through the restoration and maintenance of many tombstones, particularly those at the Tallinn Military Cemetery.
- Beyond the dismantling of monuments, Estonia has also initiated efforts to rebury remains and catalog burial sites, although specific restoration plans for individual graves remain unclear.
