I have been living in Tallinn for 4 years now and I have never seen a single SS march? What are you people talking about? And the allegations as if the country is full of Nazi monuments?! Come on! Russia wouldn't want the russians and estonians here to get along and that's why the propaganda machine of Russia is on full throttle. And I can understand estonians why they wanted to move the statue. A lot of russian extremists were waving flags of the Soviet Union around it and that was done right in the centre of the capital. Would you tolerate it?!

James McDougal, Tallinn, Estonia

The Russian 5th column is doing quite well. Soon we will hear that Russians are being persecuted abroad, land has been stolen from Russia, humiliating treaties have been signed (need abrogating, e.g., CFE treaty), time for a strong leader so constitution w/b amended, a third term will proceed.... etc. etc. Estonia shouldn't rely on the West. It should learn from Israel.

karl urbein, Springfield, MA

To Estonian who lives in London.. I see that you have been living too long in London. I am an Estonian who lives in Estonia and I would suggest you to visit Estonia more often. Bad PR? You are comparing a big nation like US with Estonia? From my point of view our gov has done over a year nothing else than explained why the memorial with soldier graves should be relocated from central Tallinn to more suitable place. But as you probably know our nation does not have big news channels like CNN or big newspaper like New York Times. So, there is a big difference how the information reaches to world.
At this quite critical moment we try to be here in Estonia like one person. Analysing can come later, when the critical events have ended. Therefore we use every possibe way to pass our ideas to abroad AND I see that you have used your chance wisely.
I suggest you to join us here in Estonia, so that you can give us your knowledge about PR instead of giving quite negative comments from abroad.

Rauno, Rakvere, Estonia

Estonia is a soverign nation and can do whatever they like to their statues. The ethnic Russians living in Estonia are a part of a civilian occupation force and should be forced to move to Russia, regardless of them being born in Estonia. Don't forget the Estonians who were forced to move to Siberia by Communist Russians. Long live a free Estonia. And let's not forget that Russia hates its neighbors and you can tell by the way Russia treats all of them. I wish China would invade Russia and force all Russians to learn Chinese, and then see how they feel about the way they shoved their language and culture down the Estonias, Latvians, Ukranians (the list goes on and on, and lets not forget the Komis, the Urglics, the Chuckchis) collective throats.

Ted, Maryland, USA

Paul, please verify the facts and figures before lashing out with 'conclusions': "the so-called "democratic" country where about 1/3 of its resident population (any analogue elsewhere in the world???!!!!) is denied citizenship and full civil rights"
According to the latest full-scale census, non-Estonians make up ca 32% of this population. Of those, quite a number actually do have citizenship (despite not being Estonian by origin per se)! So the 1/3-rights-deprived population is clearly an exaggeration. By the way, this figure also represents people of other minorities who do not seem to have problems learning the local language, passing the citizenship exam and integrating. How come these are always Russians that have issues, no matter where they are?!

As to your history 'review'-if this was to justify Russia's territorial claims in WW2, then why aren't e.g. Sweden and Denmark demanding back the territories that for a while (and already BEFORE Russia's invasion!) belonged to them?

Maia, Brussels, Belgium

i absolutely agree with helena , and all the other estonians living in the u.k or abroad .. i think the whole act was just soo un-professional . and they could have let the russians have their share , but we have to understand one thing that the statue for estonians was a sign of mass murder and distruction and deportation and not liberation ..and as far as america's PR is concerned , that is nothing but throwing dust in people's eyes , which we all seem to fall for ..
there was no need to move the statue at the first place , it's been standing there for 50 years and it did not seem to bother anyone ...
iam truely ashamed for the amorality of some poeple .

jonathan , london, u.k

To Aleksandr

Where do you get your information? Estonian people are peaceful- they do not like some people get drunk and make noise in city center and show their disrespect to our county (and Aleksandr- yours country to). I'm sure you unterstand what I have in mind. So yes- it did bother! These people can soon organise their "memorial" on Filtri street in cemetery. It's really sad what happend 2-3 nights ago when young russian huligans raved in the streets. I don't understand people who will do this in their hometown! It's insanity!

Raili, Tallinn, Estonia

First things first, I'm an Estonian living in London and it hurts to see what's going on back at home. I read all the comments and understand where all the people are coming from but still can't agree that it was a reason enough to go mental like this. For me, it was just VERY bad PR on Estonian government's behalf and they could have done it so much better. That's it. I guess it takes more time then 15 years to study all the tricks of the trade when it comes to governing a country...look at America's PR spinners...works like wonder, doesn't it?

I agree that the statue should have remained there until the 9th of May. Let the Russians who stayed behind living in Estonia have their little fun bringing the flowers and getting drunk near the statue to "to think about the past". Let's face it, if you live abroad it's important to remember the history and your home country and Estonia (Soviet Union) was their home then as well. To Be Continued...

Helena, London, UK

I live here, in Estonia, and I am a so called "estonian russian".
The whole thing is that this statue is a mere way of some people (!) getting their pockets full with money. Estonians have statues to german SS's, and same statues as the Bronze Soldier, only representing estonians, who fell during WW2. That statue has been standing for 50 years, and it didn't bother _anyone_. But before the elections in march, the nationalistic parties of Estonia began a campaign, talking about the demolishing of the statue. Then they figured, that that'd be too much, so they stopped on just moving it.
Also, 49% of all Estonia residents were _against_ the removal of the statue, where around 40% are ethnic estonians, ~90% russians.
About the vandalism - if it was said, that is in no way connected with the situation, then it is not true. The russians were drunk and wanted to show their protest, but were refused, so they started showing it this way. I am truely ashamed for the amorality of some people.

Aleksandr, Tallinn, Estonia

If the Russians liberated Estonia, why didn't they then leave Estonia immediately after the alleged liberation? If the police come to your house to stop a burglar or a rapist, they leave after they arrested the perpetrator. As for the war against nazism, one shouldn't need to remind that Stalin killed a whole lot more people than Hitler. Are their lives less valuable than the lives of Hitler's victims? I think that would be called racism. Germans have de-nazified their society, atoned for their past and built a functioning liberal democracy - Russians have done none of this in relation to their totalitarian past.

Juho, Tampere, Finland

I know history is important and it's not possible to deny to russians that estonia is part of their history and that for long, Estonia was indeed russian, or soviets. But, now look at the present. Estonian want to go ahead, get over hard periods, get over Russia"s grip.
So on the one hand, Estonia must respect its Russian citizens, but on the other hand, Russia must stop being authoritative and recognize its past mistakes and that Estonian felt occupied rather than free before 1991.

And talking about respecting its minority... do yo really think Putin's government does it?....

mathine, Reims, Fr

People of Baltic know history facts.
My family members and relatives were put in jails for no reason by Stalins regime since day one so called-'joining' in 1940.'joining' was a political trick.
2WWar was really bad for everyone.During war balts priority was to fight for freedom and gain independence.As we all know ,russian army overstayed in Baltics after 2WW.Baltic countries were abandoned for 50 years by allied forces of 2WW until the baltic nations raised themselwes in 1991.Althrough,not US and other known western countries were first to recognise regained baltic independence.
Imperialism must not prevail.For justice and solidarity against totalitary systems!C'mon Balts!

ray, london,

Eugene from Moscow, your comment is misleading and full of historical innacuracies.

Estonia did not join the Soviet Union, its accession was illegal, and has since been acknowledged by the West (the European Court of Human Rights) and by Moscow itself as such. Estonia is a country roughly the size of Wales, with a population of approx. 1million.Some form of armed resistance to the Soviet occupation of the country was of course possible, but would have been ultimately futile, given the discrepancy in size and military capabilities between the two countries. To state that during the Russian occupation after 1941 Estonian language and culture suffered no damage at all perhaps demonstrates a complete lack of knowledge of the historical facts of this period, most specifically the policy of Russification.

Sophie, London,

The current dispute between Estonian and Russia the latest but not the first time that Moscow tried to intimidate and bully its small neighbors. It is high time that EU and NATO stand up to such policies of Moscow. Of course, the Estonians and all other East European suffered horribly under the Soviet rule. To claim otherwise as moscow does is blatant lie. The idea that the Estonians must consider the Soviet rule as "liberaiton" and not the times of occupation and unimaginable atrocities is an affront to all freedom-loving peoples, not just Estonians. Only the firm and principled stand by EU and NATO can stop Moscow in its efforts to reclaim direct or indirect control over the former Soviet republics.

Neptune, NEW BRITAIN, CT, USA

It’s sad that by the 62nd anniversary of the Victory in the war with Nazis, we can see a new Nazi state in Europe. It’s Estonia. It’s the state where the government breaks rights of people only by their national attribute. They don’t give them passports, all what such “Jews” have is a piece of paper with an inscription “non citizen”. They closed their schools. People who was born there today they can’t vote.
I can’t understand Where is such love to Nazis in Europe from?
Veterans of SS today are honored by youth. It looks like Adolf’s time has returned.
P.S. Unfortunately government’s Nazi force of police has killed 2 people already. Who will be next?

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

My father in law was sent to siberia when he was 7 years old, only with his mother and 4 younger brothers and sisters.
For him and many other Estonians the Soviet times ment occupation and dictatorship.
How can Russians tell him he has to tolerate a symbol of these times in the heart of his capital?!

Thomas, Mannheim, Germany

I wonder what misery and horros of communist dictatorship all the people here (most of them Americans as I see) are talking about! That's just ridiculous! Why for God's sake Estonians kept silent all those "horrible" 50 years, Ah, sorry they were slaves! Unimmaginable. I don't approve any kind of violence that is taking place now in Tallin, be it proRussians or whoever, but anyway EU should really mind that there there is a member who started to have SS Nazi parades and people marching with their arms up in a gesture well known to all people who have suffered from Fascist regime. That is the real issue to be taken care of.

Olga, Ufa, Russia

The funniest thing in that story is that the monument was set by Estonians, and on Estonians' initiative, NOT on Soviet Russia's initiative. As for the Soviet Occupation, Estonia deserved it, to tell you the truth, for it supported Hitler and annihilated Jews during the Second World War. And I do hope that severe sanctions will be imposed on Estonia, as in my opinion removing the monument is the same thing as denying Holocaust.

Enslaving and interfering in the sovereign state's affairs, eh? The US enslaves the world and constantly pokes its nose into other nations' affairs. But no one cares about that. (Read Killing Hope by William Blum. Great stuff, by the way.) Why do you care about Russia?

The phantom of communism seems to still roam about Europe. Don't you worry, Russia will not invade Europe. I promise. But Estonians must be punished. ;)

R. Wasserman, St. Petersburg , Russian Federation

Estonia and the rest of the Baltic and Eastern European countries who suffered a virtual holocaust in the wake of the Russian Communist invasion and occupation of their countries for fifty years should work day and night on persuading the world to revise its World War 2 history and include the chapter of what happened after V-E day in Europe on the dark side. Estonians and the other recently liberated countries have a right to a period of mourning, as did the Jews. They need to believe that the world is not denying the "holocaust" that happened in their countries. The Russians' comments here on a "peaceful" occupation show an appalling ignorance of history. Russia must teach its history to its own people, else they will continue to believe their "country" was broken up by "separatists" and demand that the empire be rebuilt.
The West must stop awarding the Allied Victory sacred-cow status. The final "liberation" was far from a perfect ending as Churchill was the first to admit.

Mare Britton, Toronto, Canada

Alex says: "In that time (during Sovet Union) Estonia was one of the best republic in the USSR."

yes Alex, but that was not THANKS to Soviet Union that we had better living standard. Independent Estonia was more advanced than Finland, comparable to Switzerland before we were occupied! The Soviet Union did not improve anything, believe me, quite the opposite - we will have to work decades and decades to undo the damage.

Kati, Tallinn,

Give the statue to the Russians if they love it so much. It commemorates the war and occupation.

Ben, York,

Touchy subject for both Russia and Estonia. The monument should have stayed - as e.g. similar one in Vienna, Austria.
Nobody pays much of an attention anymore politically to it, it even became a kind of a "landmark" there, even though nobody in Austria would really consider the Red Army as "liberators". Cool heads should prevail .

koma, toronto, canada

It's scary to see Russia gearing up again, taking offense to the actions of countries around her in such a way. Obviously, this memorial can be seen two ways- either as a monument to the defeat of the Nazis, or to the Soviet occupation that lamentably followed them. The fact that it became one of the later gives the Estonians the right to remove it- though perhaps the most tactful thing to do would be to have some other monument praising the Russian soldiers without glorifying the Stalinist regime that they served.

Estonia is a sovereign state though- one which we should protect from such bullying. It is sad to see Russia going back to their bad old ways, intentionally misinterpreting the progress around them. No-one loves the Soviet Union, live with it!

Gideon, Chiba, Japan

The funniest thing in that story is that the monument was set by Estonians, and on Estonians' initiative, NOT on Soviet Russia's initiative. As for the Soviet Occupation, Estonia deserved it, to tell you the truth, for it supported Hitler and annihilated Jews during the Second World War. And I do hope that severe sanctions will be imposed on Estonia, as in my opinion removing the monument is the same thing as denying Holocaust.

Enslaving and interfering in the sovereign state's affairs, eh? The US enslaves the world and constantly pokes its nose into other nations' affairs. But no one cares about that. (Read Killing Hope by William Blum. Great stuff, by the way.) Why do you care about Russia?

The phantom of communism seems to still roam about Europe. Don't you worry, Russia will not invade Europe. I promise. But Estonians must be punished. ;)

R. Wasserman, St. Petersburg , Russian Federation

I'm so glad they got that commie statue out. Shame on that ex KGB rodent mascarading as a free president for keeping a symbol of his gulag regime on foreign soil. GO ESTONIA!!! FREE PEOPLE EVERYWHERE ARE BEHIND YOU!!!!!

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

I didn't know mass murders and deportations done by Soviet Union after they occupied Estonia were called "liberation".

I also don't believ that robbing shops and destroying the city is "fighting nazism".

ulla, Stockholm,

"The recapture of Tallinn by Soviet forces was far from being a "liberation" for the Estonian people. It merely marked a change in foreign regimes" - It is frightening to see how neo-nazis take commanding positions in that country. They equal fascist nazi regime to a member of the anti-Hitler coalition who saved millions from nazi annihilation.
I read that Estonian SS soldiers have their annual marches. They are respected and government supported war veterans.
Disgusting.

Greg, Sydney, Australia

If it's so bad for Russians to live in Estonia, if their rights are permanently opressed, why wouldn't they go back to Russia where they belong to? Actually, did Estonians asked Russians to "liberate" them and then deport the ethnic population to Siberia? They are occupants and deserve to be treated like so.
My respect for Estonia.

Cristina, Chisinau, Moldova

The tensions around the monument were building for months, becoming a demonstration of everything else but respect for the dead on the part of Russian minorities. It cannot have stayed where it was. The Russian government is reacting as if the monument has been destroyed – it hasn’t, it has been relocated to a cemetery, as will the remains of the dead, if found. If that isn’t considering the minorities’ needs, I don’t know what is.

Marju, Tallinn,

We wouldn't have had any problems with the monument, if the Russians didn't gather there several times per year, waving Soviet flags and posters saying "your masters have returned!". Or "Soviet Union 4ever", like we saw yesterday. Can you see why any country that had been occupied would have a little problem with such public displays by occupants and their descendants in the centre of their capital?

I

Kati, Tallinn,

I am thinking that people from other countries doesn't understand our problems in Estonia or
they don't know history about Estonia. Yes, Russian army helped to war win, but they forgot to go away from Estonia after war and after that Stalin did the same thing with our people like Hitler did with Jews.
For most people Red Army is at same level like Nazi army.
Do you people know about Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact some thing and how Stalin and Hitler divided Europe for German and for USSR ?

Imps, Tallinn, Extonia

I am thinking that people from other countries doesn't understand our problems in Estonia or
they don't know history about Estonia. Yes, Russian army helped to war win, but they forgot to go away from Estonia after war and after that Stalin did the same thing with our people like Hitler did with Jews.
For as Red Army is at same level like Nazi army.

Imps, Tallinn, Estonia

Dear people. this matter has ceased being political or national it is now merely criminal. the rioters are teens and children mostly and I have to wander what do their parents think to let them stay out that late, further more, to let them attack estonian officials, destroy not only property of estonian shop owners but many foreigners who have settled here; and openly rob and steal from shop right in the eye of cameras like they thought they cant be punished. I wander what their domestic upbringing is and how their parents have so completely lost control over them.

to all that think we were somehow "freed" by Soviet Army - think about how and why THEY then stayed here to replace one occupation with another . besides, the plan to invade Estonia falls into the period right BEFORE Second World War had started. Molotov Rippendrop, people, 1939! and there were TWO Soviet occupations in fact, not just one. first in 1941, second in 1944.
Children, go home and study for spring exams now.

Tuuli, Tallinn, Estonia

Russians isone third of population of Estonia? thats why peoples who say:Send the Russians back to Russia where they came from, it is a foolish people, nothing understands in situations in country. This monument it is a rememberance of rusians solders whos were died in figt wiwth facism.

Yurij, Kaliningrad, Russia

Estonia should belong to the Estonians.

This reminds me of the Confederate flag issue in South Carolina. Both are symbols which mean totally different & contradictory things to 2 different groups of people. The solution is to get it off of public land & let those who value it put it on their own property.

If the symbol is still on public land, it is being forced on those for whom it is a symbol of repression.

J. Rhinehart, Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA

Estonia was not occupied by the USSR. It joined it in 1939-1940, *before* the war, and there was no military resistance towards Soviets and Estonia didn't declare war. So the whole process was peaceful. And just to let you know Estonia was a part of Russia and the USSR from the beginning of the 18th century and up to 1991 with just 20 years of independence (from about 1920 to 1939-1940), totally for about 270 years. In those 270 years, estonian language and culture suffered no damage at all - unlike Irish or American Indians, for example.

Eugene, Moscow,

I think the most disappointing result of, at the very least, questionable decision of the Estonian government, is that 15 years of fairly successful integration between Estonian and Russian-speaking population of Estonia has been destroyed in one day. Unfortunately, the restoration of what was lost will now take years.

In addition, some of the comments from the American contributors to this commentary do sound rather preposterous in light of successful “liberalisation” of Iraq recently undertaken by the US.

Anne, Reading, UK

This incident is a direct consequence of essentially racist ethnic Estonian state policies, the so-called "democratic" country where about 1/3 of its resident population (any analogue elsewhere in the world???!!!!) is denied citizenship and full civil rights. The state encouraging the veterans of Nazi SS regiments who had killed thousands of Russians and Jews to march openly. No surprise ethnic Russians are enraged... BTW, Estonia was part of Russia since early 18 century (when it was taken from Swedish control) and was independent (the only period ever) during 1918-1940 only due to temporary Russian weakness around 1918.

Paul, Glasgow, Scotland

Articles yesterday pointed to the deep ambivalence and even animosity Europeans feel towards American influence in their region, while Putin demanded that Americans retreat from increased influence in eastern European countries and cancelled an important de-escalation agreement (which they did not like because it expected them to demilitarize Georgia). Today, they bristle at Estonia. Tomorrow it will be the Ukraine again. And then?? Putin asks Europeans to make a choice between Russia's wider influence and America's wider influence in Europe. He insists on them making the wrong choice. They hope there is a third choice. What is it?

Mark Thomas, Calgary, Canada

They take down monuments to the Russian liberators but put up monuments to the SS all over the country. The comments here are written by people who have no clue what is going on in the Baltics and the resurgence of open fascism there. These countries have huge Russian minorities that are given defacto second class citizen status. Russian names have been "latvianized" on passports, citizenship to ethnic Russians who were born in these countries during the soviet period are still being denied and Russians are routinely discriminated against in the work place. These violent protests demonstrate the degree of public anger.

This statue is one of a whole range of issues. The Baltic midget states love to pour salt in Moscow's wounds to make themselves feel relevant. They decided to take down this statue on the eve of the May 9th holiday which is still the most important holiday in Russia in an effort to spit in Moscow's face. Moscow will return the favor as it has every right to.

Yuri Shapashov, Moscow, Russia

Estonian collaborators with their Nazi masters exterminated practically all Jews and 100% Roma that were resident in that country in the early 1940s.

What happened yesterday revives these memories. I have no sympathy for this apartheid state and their Nazi past.

Yakov Sher, London, UK

Estonia acts in a democratic way. Why is it so problematic to bury the ruins in the defence Cemetery. The monument and the ruins were next to the bus-stop. To Alex in Weimar. I think it is the complex of one big nation and convenient way to draw attention to artificially created problems, so one cannot think about the social and economic problems inside Russia . Why Estonias should honour the statue when during the occupation people were forced to commemorate it. Personally, my own grandfather was killed by the so-called liberators, also some of the close relatives ( can you imagine starting your fatal journey of 5000 kilometres together with infants and small children who died en-route from hunger and not to mention those teachers, doctors, farmers etc. who were deported to Siberia making 10 % of the total population). Sorry, but I am really happy that I don't have to face the bronze statue reminding me all these horrors.

Eda, Tallinn, Estonia

This monument in memory of Soviet soldiers killed fighting the Nazis. Facism had to be stopped and those soldiers paid their lives to stop it. They deserve respect from everybody for doing that. Russia had to pay HUGE price to stop fascism thats why it reacts so much.

Slava, Palo Alto, US

Fair play to the Estonians! Why should they be reminded that a brutal fascist regime was replaced by a brutal communist one. The Russians did not plough through the Baltic states at the end of WW2 for the benefit of the Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians. They subdued those countries so that they could control that strategic region and impose on it their Soviet Communist ideology. If there is to be a monument, it should be one to the ones who disappeared into the Gulags, (if they got that far) never to be seen again.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

The soldiers were buried there, they battled for freedom. Russia (the USSR) lost more than 27 million people in the World War II. And such actions of Estonia’s government show to us Russians their attitude to our price. I want to remind all you that in 1945 Berlin was taken by Russian Army and our country made free All Europe from fascism. I don’t know what would we be have if Hitler had won. But I know on 100% that such countries like Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Czechia, the Balkan countries, France, Belgium and so on wouldn’t be today.

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

final unschackling of the chains which have bonded the people of estonia.

malcolm macaskill, rosemead, ca, usa

This monument is dedicated to the Soviet soldiers that died while liberarating Estonia and virtually the whole Europe from the most inhuman regime, which eventually would've extirpated estonian people as a people. The remains of those soldiers stil lay (maybe not any more) in estonian soil, the country for the future of which they died.

The monument has nothing to do with the 1940 annexation, which was absolutely bloodless, hence the monument and the bed of honour cannot memorialize it.

What in my oppinion is happening in the former Baltic Soviet republics is pure paranoia. But this will finish badly for them. One day Russia nevertheless will impose tough sanctions against them.

Frank, Moscow, Russia

The same Russians who elected to remain in Estonia when it became independent are probably the ones taking exception to the removal of the statue. On the other hand, the Estonians could have kept the statue where it is as a monument to occupation.

Tim, Helsinki, Finland

In that time (during Sovet Union) Estonia was one of the best republic in the USSR. There were a lot of things . And we couldn' t dream about this things at Russia. I would lived with a great pleasure on this ,as you named, "occuption territory" in 80-s. And i think the words like - It was occupation - are a big foolishness.

Alex, Pskov, Russia

Whoever has heard of transplanting "cancer" from one location to another. It will remain as a malignancy in the Estonian soil.

Arved Ojamaa, Sarasota, USA Florida

I have a bad feeling about days to come with Russia and its relations with the USA along with Estonia and any other country it has disputes with. I don't foresee another Afghanistan situation as long as Putin is in control but as of 2008 the next President may make some decisions that could lead to conflict. I have always thought the next world war war would be started in the middle east but now with all these missile defense and other problems a situation where Russia forcefully punishes Estonia may lead to a world scaled issue. If the USA got involved the middle east would blame the US for trying to police the world and chaos ensuing. Iran was my guess for the next war monger but I guess i have to put Russia back into the pool.

Andrew Kastner, Lansing, USA/Michigan

Estonia is now a sovereign nation who does not need the agreement of the Russian government or indeed any other for the removal and re-positioning of a statue on it's own territory.
The hardships imposed by the government of the Soviet Union on the people of Estonia justifies this action. This object would, if left in position, always be a painful reminder of the communist Russian occupation and it's remaining where it was would be an insult to the millions who were terrorised across the country of Estonia.

O'Looney, Bucharest, Romania

I do not think it was necessary to remove the red army statue. It is a symbol of liberation from Nazi regime. Estonian government knows the sensitivity of Russian minority towards the symbols that remind the war of liberation. Sometimes I think governments around the world want to create further problems just to make international relations more difficult.

Alessandro, Rome, Italy

Russian Government officials even now fully expect that Stalin's Russification program in Estonia during the fifty years of Soviet occupation will eventually result in complete Russian domination and re-occupation of Estonia.
Any opposition to Russian domination, and its symbols, in Estonia by the uppity Estonians is indeed "blasphemous."

Tonu Toomepuu, St. Petersburg, Florida, USA

The EU must stand tall alongside Estonia and send a clear message that Russian bullying and meddling in the affairs of a sovereign state will not be tolerated.

Ben, York,

Shame for the goverment which allowed that to happened. Not in favour for both sides (estonians or russians)

The will of majoroty is to live for long and happy....

Andrew, Bristol, UK

Estonia is an independent country and this is what Russia can not take. Russia is also worried about the gas pipe line with Germany, which may run through Estonian soil.
P.S. those who destroyed city of Tallinn last night were not protestants but young houligans.

Mihkel, Tallinn, Estonia

One big komplex of one little nation.

Alex, Weimar, BDR

Try being a non russian politician or diplomat and ask questions about Chechnya and they are told it is an internal matter for Russians to solve.

But when another country that was enslaved for 50 years by an evil dictatorship, wants to remove a symbol of that brutality and then Russia all of a sudden believes it has the right to interfere in another sovereign nations internal affairs.

This new, aggressive and intolerant Russia is foreboding, hopefully it is not the prelude to a repetition of Russia's expansionist acts of the 30's and 40's, that led to so much death and loss, for itself as much as for other nations. This lasted for fifty years.

Paul Phillips, London,

Tell the Russians to go back to Russia! As Italy drove out the French, Austrian, and Spanish invaders after unification in the 19th Century, so too the descendants of invaders in Estonia must leave or face a "Sicilian Vespers" as bloody as the one felt by the French, Austrians, and Spanish in Italy. The Italians showed no mercy. I expect Estonians will not either.

James Donatelli, Garbage Grove, Nevada

When it comes to the removal of the monuments in honour of the fallen Soviet soldiers in Stavropol and Khimki near Moscow, Russian authorities have kept mum, although in the both cases the remains of the soldiers went missing. In Khimki, riot police were sent in to disperse the protesters. In fact, the conflict is politicised by the Kremlin. As the old proverb says, to see a mote in thy brother's eye.

fireyez, Moscow,

Russia's Parliament is posturing for internal consumption. Rather than blinking, Estonia should dare Russia to look as stupid as it would if it removed its ambassador over a matter where Russia has absolutely no case at all.

Tossing out the Nazis only to take over was no liberation. It was occupation. The murderous Soviet regime did no favor to Estonia and, crucially, neither was it good for Russia itself. Russia would do well to remember that.

Gabi, Durham, NC, USA

The people of the Baltic nations do not need any reminders of their past misery under Soviet dictatorship. Send the Russians back to Russia where they came from, but, if they insist, keep the monument -- but insure that it becomes the focus of a garbage dump.

L. Step, Philadelphia, USA/PA

The constant agressive words towards estonia and the release of some films with false or doubtful negative historycal facts built in,leads only to a fact that the russian propaganda machine is rolling again.
Russia talks only about his minority in estonia and their needs but what makes democracy out is that everybodys voice is heared but the will of the majoroty is put in action.

Sander, tallinn, estonia

Communism and all it's barbarism was brought to Estonia against the will of it's people by the Russians after the World War.
It is therefore only natural that this statue represents all the horrors of communism and Soviet occupation to the majority of the Estonian population. The Russian government is also fully aware of these historical facts and attempts to completely ignore them in their recent statements.
The moving of this statue is nothing compared to the hardships endured by Estonia under Russian rule and as difficult as it is for the Russian government to accept, Estonia is today a sovereign nation and therefore has every right to decide upon it's own internal affairs.

O'Looney, Bucharest

Arthur O'Looney, Bucharest, Romania

Even as a fierce anti-communist I must admit that it was the sacrifices of Russian soldiers that liberated the world from nazism by keeping the German Army extremely busy on the East front before America even managed to get its act together. Every Russian family was hit by losses of loved ones.

Therefore it is indeed a sacrilege of the Estonian government to remove this monument. We as EU citizens should protest against this act of historic vandalism.

Thomas Swedeman, Stockholm, Sweden

Estonia is now a sovereign nation who does not in any way need the approval of the Russian government to move statues within it's territory from one place to another.

The hardship wrought by the then Soviet Union upon the people of Estonia justifies the removal as such an object will always remain a painful reminder to most Estonians of the barbaric communist occupation.

O'Looney, Bucharest, Romania

We allso expect some mental support from Polish, latvian and Lithuanian people. They should know aswell what it means to be sent to Siberia consentration camps for 25+5 years for no reason.

Jaanus, Valga, Estonia

Fair play to the Estonians. Why should they have any reminders of what the Russians did for them in WW2? It was simply a brutal Communist regime kicking out a brutal Fascist regime, not for the benefit of the Estonians, but for Soviet Communist ideology and total control of the Baltic. The statute should be replaced with a monument to the Estonians who disappeared after they were very kindly liberated from the Nazis.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

The Estonians were right to do this. Russia occupied and oppressed their country for 50 years. The Russians remain deluded about their responsibility for Soviet Imperialism and fail to understand the benefits and necessity of democracy. About time they learned.

JL, Paris, France

jesus christ

Mike, Cleveland, USA