Last Updated: Thursday, 26 April 2007, 18:49 GMT 19:49 UK

Estonia seals off Soviet memorial

Police encircled the memorial while a 2m-high fence went up
Estonian police have used tear gas to disperse crowds protesting against the proposed move of a Red Army war memorial in Tallinn to a cemetery.
The monument and the graves of 14 Soviet soldiers buried nearby were cordoned off early on Thursday morning.

The Russian government says moving the memorial would be an insult to the soldiers who died during World War II.

But Estonia says it poses a risk as it has been the scene of clashes between Estonians and Russian nationalists.

Many Estonians see the bronze statue of a Soviet soldier, erected in 1947 in the centre of Tallinn, as a reminder of nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation.

'Internal affair'

Estonian riot police formed a ring around the monument at 0430 (0130 GMT) on Thursday, in order to keep protesters away and to allow the construction of a 2m-high wire fence around it.

We will take into account what is and will be happening today and in the next few days in the Estonian capital while building our relations with this country

Russian foreign ministry spokesman

Regular police continued to patrol the fence's perimeter throughout the day to keep a few dozen protesters, many shouting "Shame on Estonia", from scaling it.

By evening, the crowd of protesters swelled to around 1,000 people and a group tried to break through the police cordon.

Riot police responded by firing tear gas and using water cannon to disperse the crowd.

A spokesman for the Russian foreign ministry said the work showed disregard for the feelings of relatives of the buried soldiers.

He questioned the decision to move it before 9 May, the Soviet Union's Victory Day.

"We are outraged by the fact that the practical steps concerning the monument began shortly before Victory Day, a day that is sacred to everyone," Mikhail Kamynin said.

"We will take into account what is and will be happening today and in the next few days in the Estonian capital while building our relations with this country."

But Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said the memorial was a matter for Estonia alone.

"We don't consider it necessary to hold deep discussions with the Russian authorities over the internal affairs of Estonia," he said.

"I stress that there has never been any talk in Estonia of demolishing the monument."

"This is a tombstone that will go with any remains we might find, which will be given a decent and dignified reburial."

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Last Updated: Friday, 27 April 2007, 13:42 GMT 14:42 UK

Estonia memorial move 'blasphemy'

Russia says the statue honours soldiers who fought Nazi Germany
Russia has condemned the removal by Estonian authorities of a contentious Red Army war memorial as blasphemous and inhuman.
Estonia was mocking the dead, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.

[color="Navy"]One person was killed and more than 40 injured in street unrest as the statue was removed from the capital, Tallinn. Police used tear gas and water cannon.

Russia said the memorial should not have been moved, but many Estonians saw it as a reminder of Soviet rule.

More than 300 of the mostly ethnic Russian demonstrators who were protesting against the statue's removal were arrested during the overnight clashes.

Secret location

The removal provoked angry condemnation from Russian officials and lawmakers.

ESTONIA-RUSSIA TIES
1918: Estonia gained independence from Russia
1940: Forcibly incorporated into Soviet Union
1941-1944: Occupied by Nazi Germany
1944: Soviets return as Nazis retreat
1991: Gains independence as Soviet Union collapses
1994: Last Russian forces leave Estonia
Now: Ethnic Russians make up quarter of Estonia's 1.3m people

History at the heart of row
In pictures: Estonia clashes
Have Your Say

Mr Lavrov said Russia would "take serious steps" following the removal and Russia's Senate called for diplomatic relations with Estonia to be cut.

Estonia's government would not reveal where it took the six-foot (1.83m) statue, but spokesman Martin Jasko said it would ultimately be placed at the military cemetery in Tallinn.

The memorial, a bronze statue of a Soviet soldier, was erected in 1947. The remains of Soviet soldiers are thought to be buried nearby.

Estonian officials said it had to be moved to a cemetery because the site attracted both Russian and Estonian nationalists.

'Not justified'

By Thursday evening, around 1,000 demonstrators gathered as police sealed off the site ahead of the removal.

The memorial has inspired violence between communities

There were reports of looting and vandalism, and police used tear gas and a water cannon when a group tried to break through a cordon around the monument. Several police were among the injured, reports said.

"The aim of the government move was to prevent further similar gross violations of public order, which pose a real threat to citizens' health and property," an Estonian government statement said.

Ethnic Russians, who make up more than a quarter of Estonia's 1.3 million population, say that the statue commemorates Red Army soldiers who died fighting Nazi Germany.

HAVE YOUR SAY
The statue was a symbol of occupation in Estonia and should have been removed in 1991

Kaarel, Tallinn

Send us your comments
"International organisations should examine [the events in Tallinn] in all seriousness and take any necessary steps to cool the ardour of the Estonian authorities," RIA Novosti news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin as saying.

But on Thursday, Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said the relocation of the memorial was a matter for Estonia alone.

"We don't consider it necessary to hold deep discussions with the Russian authorities over the internal affairs of Estonia," he said.

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pictures of Tallinn riots