Empires come and empires go. In a thousand years no one will care about that staute or any other. Governments are responsible for 170+ million deaths in the 20th century and they continue into the 21st. If you support the carnage carried out on your behalf, then your nationalism has blinded you. Sovereignty and freedom are important. That does not stop the mighty and strong from oppressing the small and weak. May God have mercy on us all.

peter, maryland, usa

To once and for all correct the historical record: The Baltic States were never "allies" of either Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia. The Baltic States were militarily occupied during WWII and the Baltic people were prisoners. In contravention of international laws and treaties, Latvian, Estonian, and Lithuanian men, women, and children were used as slave labor and cannon fodder in the military efforts of their demented occupiers, Soviet Russia and Nazi Germany. The brutal occupation of the Baltic States by the Soviet Union continued for over fifty years and attempted to destory the Baltic people, culture, and languages. There is no longer any excuse to repeat Soviet propaganda against the Balts. I will be happy to suggest a reading list beginning with Robert Conquest - REFLECTIONS ON A RAVAGED CENTURY, Martin Amis - KOBA THE DREAD, and Andrievs Ezergailis - THE HOLOCAUST IN LATVIA.

Maija Mierkalns, San Francisco, California USA

"Do russians move from USA to Russia? No. Do they move from Europe to Russia? No. Do they move from Estonia to Russia? No. Russian people feel good in all countries but Russia."

Well-known questions of Skinheads. But I can put it in some other way: Do white colonists move from America back to Europe? Or do white men feel good at the lands which belong to Native Americans? I don't like Skinheads in Russia and elsewhere. My impression is Skinheads govern Estonia. And it is sad that many people in EU and USA are supporting Skinheads. Racism is road to hell.

Yuri , Moscow, Russia

Russians should have NO say in any Estonian matters.
If they don't like it in Estonia--Siberia has plenty of space for them.
If Estonians wanted to remove or burn or blow up that statue, it is their right to do so -- Russians should concentrate their energy to keep their reporters alive.

s moberg, helsinki, finland

Here is a great idea for all these Brits and Americans who love Russia and this statue so much (and yeah, the Russians did not kill millions of people in Eastern Europe — that was only done by Stalin himself, all alone)


Why don‘t you built a statue of Stalin in the middle of London rsp. Washington DC? Take all the bones you want and bore them beneath. After all, these were your allies, not the allies of Estonia

Susanne Modeski, Pine Ridge, Usa

I would like to thank you guys from the US and Britain for your support. My respect to you.

Anton, Moscow, Russia

Furthermore, I am not surprised that many of the people who are supporting Russia in this issue are from the UK. In Europe today as in the past smaller nations and cultures are disrespected and stompted on left, right and centre. Just look at how Westminster (read: England) invaded, colonised, raped, killed and Anglosized the Irish, Welsh, Manx, Scots and Cornish not to mention the brutality of the British Empire around the world. It makes sense then that people from the UK would side with mighty opressive Russia and not small democratic Estonia.

Colm, Corcaigh, Éire/ Ireland

What most people don't understand is it is not about the statue or honor of fallen. In the last few years, very provoking meetings and gatherings were held at the statue but it was'nt major news worldwide. Estonia relocates the statue to prevent further conflicts. Just look at the big picture, Russia does'nt care about a statue, they are removing tens of analog statues in Russia yearly. Russia cares only about their strategy and they use every possible chance to provoke anything to meet their needs. There is a strong evidence the meeting which was escalating to riot was planned by Moscow. Do russians move from USA to Russia? No. Do they move from Europe to Russia? No. Do they move from Estonia to Russia? No.
Russian people feel good in all countries but Russia.

Tarmo, Tallinn, Estonia

I have read all the comments made in the forum. Firstly, why so much insult towards us, Russian people? Are all the nations represented here ideal and innocent? Secondly, much can be said about history and its understanding (that is interpreting), but I want to stress the point of the timing chosen by the Estonian government. It is very close to the 9th of May, Victory Day, the day, sacred for Russia. The riots of Russian part of the population were provoked in this way. Thirdly, when I watch the news from Tallinn these days and the methods of the police applied my heart aches. And the last point, I can't believe that ALL ethnically Russian people living permanently in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania behave as some people here want to show us.

Irina, Magnitogorsk, Russia

Russia, who raped Estonia, occupied it and killed, deported and oppressed its population should not be so absurd to tell that country to respect the Russian soldiers that bought about so much suffering for Estonians.

Russia has no place in Europe and the UK, France and Germany should firmly give Moscow the two fingers.

Russian minorities should shut up or ship out. Estonia is an independent democratic Western country. Russians should realise that the Soviet Union is no longer. Estonia is free and Russians are THE minority. So either accept to integrate and respect Estonia or go back to Russia. After all it is only a few kilometres away.

Russia is controlled by an oppressive dictatorship that kills journalists and free-speech. The only thing that Russians liberated Estonians from was public order, safety and Hugo Boss trousers. Russia is a bully and should not be bowed down to!

Colm, Corcaigh, Éire/ Ireland

To all who said about occupation.
Part I
I don’t think that the soldiers buried there and who was battling thought about occupation. More probably they had such thoughts, for example:
Ivan thought - about his little daughter 10 years old, who was working at a factory 12 hours for a day making shells for guns and tanks. Shells must be enough for army battling with enemy. He thought about “Is she hungry? Is 250 gram bread for a day enough to her? What’s about clothes. Has she got a footwear and a coat? Because winter temperature -40 C”. Or maybe his thoughts was - about his brother which was repressioned in 1937, and when war has begun directed into Penal battalion.

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

Furthermore, I am not surprised that many of the people who are supporting Russia in this issue are from the UK. In Europe today as in the past smaller nations and cultures are disrespected and stompted on left, right and centre. Just look at how Westminster (read: England) invaded, colonised, raped, killed and Anglosized the Irish, Welsh, Manx, Scots and Cornish not to mention the brutality of the British Empire around the world. It makes sense then that people from the UK would side with mighty opressive Russia and not small democratic Estonia.

Colm, Corcaigh, Éire/ Ireland

Are you kidding me? Everyone who saw what was going on say that police did a great job! And how do you treat animals, cause thats how russians behaved!! what steps in the world have russians stepped in terms of integration in estonia? Burnig our flag on the street?

Kerstin, Tallinn, Estonia

How can russians demand respect for dead men from people of Estonia, if the dead men are not respected by themselves? Look at the Red Square. Militaristic marches are often held there and people are burried just a few meters away in the walls of Kremlin. Is that respect for dead men? The mummy of V.I. Lenin is publicly exposed to tourists of Moscow. Is that respect for dead man? I don't think so. Dead people should be in cemetery, not in the center of city. Good luck, Estonia, we are with you.

Marius, Kaunas, Lithuania

Part 1
I am shocked to read some of the comments made here. It is a war memorial and burial place for fallen soldiers during WWII. It is European etiquette that you treat those with respect and you do not touch. I am sure Canadian; American and UK governments would have something to say if in Belgium or in France a similar action was carried out. Additionally, since Estonia became independent it has not been a problem (15 years), how strange, now it suddenly is.

The Estonian government could have dealt with this more maturely and responsibly. The timing (close to the 9th of May) of carrying out the removal is designed to provoke a response. This work could have been carried out in July or September.

The Estonian-Russian population living in Estonia where sent during the Soviet times. People where relocated according to where they were needed, this was not by choice. Due to recent legislation in relation to language Europe has now a country in it’s midst that violate basic human rights.

Erik, London, UK

Estonians ARE NOT fashists. We think, that fashism is as horrible as communism. There is no nazism in Estonia - this is simply a braing-washing propaganda made by russian politics and a great amount of russians are grow up with this propaganda.
I was about 5-years old girl playing in the yard, when 4 russian boys (few years older than me) had beaten me and named me "fashist". How can be a 5-years old girl be a fashist?
DO NOT believe russian lies?

Mari, Tartu, Estonia

The Nazi and Soviet states were both evil, as shown by the partition of Poland. Why debate which was the lesser?

Ben, York,

It is perfectly consistent for a sensible, ethical person to condemn both of the great totalitarian regimes of the 20th century, Nazi Germany and Communist Russia, at the same time. So opposing the Nazis does not necessarily make you a Communist, and likewise, opposing totalitarian Communism does not make you a Nazi.
Furthermore, I would argue that opposing those (and all other) murderous, oppressive and deceitful regimes is the hallmark of being a sensible, ethical person. If a statue of a soldier bearing the insignia of such a terrible regime is relocated by a free, democratic and sovereign state away from the centre of its capital, it is an act of respect for the innocent, defenceless victims of such totalitarian regimes.

Lembit, Tallinn, Estonia

There is an immense monument in the Tiergarten in what used to be East Berlin, honouring those Russian soldiers who died in the Second World War, particularly those who died in the assault on Berlin itself. It was erected after the end of the war, while the area was under Soviet occupation. Quite rightly, no attempt has been made to remove it even though the Russians are no longer in occupation - it is respected as a momument to those who fell. Since when should a monument to the dead be seen as a symbol of occupation?

Chris Best, Kettering, UK

Difficult situation indeed. People in Estonia were glad to be free from Nazism, Soviet solgiers helped to make Estonia free. But what USSR did next - USSR captured Estonia, made there socialism and USSR didn't ask whether Estonia wanted socialism or democracy. And now Estonia associates the statue with USSR's occupation.
I think both Russia and Estonia should be more tolerant and flexible, they take too much upon themselves.

Andrey P, Zelenograd, Russia

The statue wasn't removed, just MOVED and not because we are all nazis or we hate russians, it's because some drunk young russians started to hang around it insult estonians and shout out Rossija Rossija while holding red flags, so the statue is moved to a military cemetary. It's not disrespectful, people who want to show respect can go there at the cemetary.
I'm young and i don't know why everybody is making so big deal about it. People who took part of the riot were also young and drunk, i doubt that while crashing stores they were thinking about all the people who died in the war and how disrespectful for them is to move the statue.

Tiina , Tartu , Estonia

The bigger picture here is simple. The greater part of Europe, west and east, north and south, was overtaken or over run by Hitler"s seemingly invincible armies in preparation for what Churchill called "Domination of the western hemisphere", perhaps a prelude to global domination, or a Nazi-American cold war. During this period we might have expected not only the extermination of European Jewry, but perhaps a similar extermination of large sections of other races deemed to be a future threat. As Great Britain and the British Empire struggled for survival, alone, the Soviet Union was attacked, perhaps Hitler"s last formidable enemy, and in defending itself Russia and its allies also effectively saved the whole of Europe, including ourselves. This was the mightiest armed struggled in human history, perhaps never to be equalled again, and God alone knows what kind of world would have resulted in Russia had not triumphed. The Soviet-Western Cold War was frightening but we are free.

Piggy Kruger, Bridgwater, UK

How can russians demand respect for dead men from Estonian people, if they don't respect dead men by themselves? Look at the Red Square. People are burried in the walls of Kremlin where militaristic marches are held quite often. Is that the respect for dead men? The mummy of Lenin is publicly exposed to tourists. Is that the respect for dead man? I'd say, no. The place for dead men is in the cemetery and not in the center of town. Estonians, Lithuania supports you.

Marius, Kaunas, Lithuania

"In a democratic country politicians act upon what the public demands. It seems clear that the majority of Estonians do not oppose to have this statue relocated to a cemetery."

Well, in a poll taken before these events the ethnic Estonians were split 50/50, and obviously almost all the Russians were against. That's a majority of the population. Not to mention that the rights of (30% in this case) minorities should not be trampled upon, either. Oh, and the (Estonian) mayor of Tallinn was against, too.

Michael, Dubai,

Removel of a monument this is a business of people having memory

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

To Esa Leskinen and others: Stalin and Hitler were allies,true, but Finland as well! Finland was to blame for death of 1,000,000 russians in Leningrad blockade as it was mostly finnish troops who blockaded it. Also, west was also ally to Hitler by signing a treaty in Munich in 1939 and giving him Czechoslovakia as a gift of appeasement, it encouraged that finnish friend to take over more and more land!! Also, there are monuments and graveyards to british empire soldiers in Russia and Ukraine, they were invading force, occupants if one uses eSStonian terminology. So, I'm convinced that british public wouldn't mind if we, Russians, bulldoze these graves, take bones out and throw them away as unbearable symbols of past invasion, occupation and mass murders commited by british forces? India is welcome to follow our approach!! Think about your own past before you comment on ours!!

Philipp, London,

A better airing of this issue is needed. Many Europeans and Americans are not aware of the real issues involved. "anti-statue" supporters claim it is a reminder of Russian occupation. Russian-Estonians and many others claim the statue honors the Red Army who liberated Estonia from the Nazis. The divide has another aspect: Which occupation was more odious the German Fascist one or the Russian? I vote for the Russian occupation as being more benign. Estonia, like other Baltic states has shown, in the past a pro-fascist anti-ethnic and anti-semitic inclination. It seems that it seems that this infection, low level though it may be still resides in the Estonian body politic.

dave g, los angeles,

In 1945 the USA had a nuclear bomb. Why you didn’t say about occupation of the Baltic countries? You thought that the USSR was the same Nazi Germany, then why after Elba you didn’t go to release from communism the Baltic countries and central Europe as it had done Russians releasing these countries from Nazi. Because it was not important for you, I think so.
And again Thanks Russian people they did it instead of you in 1991. They released Europe from communism. There weren’t our tanks in Warsaw, Prague, Berlin, Bucharest. There weren’t reprisals in other Soviet’s republics. All they became independent without blood.

P.S. You, Yankee, only speak about Democracy and in the same time kill thousands Iraq’s people.

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

And about OCCUPATION: people of the Soviet Union suffered from Stalin as seriously as people of other countries. Millions of soviet people were killed, sent to Siberia, millions lives were broken. That’s why in our country we’ve demolished monuments to Stalin and other dictators.
If Estonia is against the politics of the soviet government, we understand this. But in this case monuments to politics should be demolished, but not the monuments to soldiers that fighted against Nazism!
And actions of police should be in the frames of the law, not so nazisticly brutall, as now!!!

Kate, Moscow, Russia

Everybidy should remember, that Russia and Germany were buddies, who made a pact in 1939 where they agreed, how they will divide Europe between them. They both got greedy, that was the reason why the Red Army was fighting the Nazis in the first place. Yes, it's a victory for Western Europe, cause you were supposed to belong to Germany. But victory for Eastern Europe, that was left for Russia?

Imagine if the Germans had won, occupied England and France for 50 years, killed and deported your grandparents and relatives, forced everybody to speak German, brought in hundreds of thousands of germans into your countries.. After regaining independence from them, UK or France tried to remove SS soldier monuments from the centre of London and Paris, where germans were gathering and celebrating the occupation. And Germans were threatening you and claiming that they should be honoured, as they saved the world from communism..

Kati, Tallinn,

This is the bad, sad side of nationalism. Independance can only work when there is confidence in the future of your country while at the same time acknowledging it's past. Actions such as this say only thing, there is a problem. Trying to remove traces of everything that's happened before is an unhealthy attitude for a relatively new nation. Exhuming bodies is particularly distasteful.
This nationalistic attidute is why we had the previous wars. Grow up Estionia.

E McLeod, Edinburgh, Scotland

In a democratic country politicians act upon what the public demands. It seems clear that the majority of Estonians do not oppose to have this statue relocated to a cemetery.

Depending on what side you are on you will see the relocation of the statue differently, either as a symbol of freedom from Russia or as a symbol of disrespect to the fallen. Both attitudes are understandable, but as I said Estonia is a democratic independent country and if they want it relocated, it must be relocated.

The past is there to learn from, let's not make the same mistakes again. Understanding is a prerequisite to dialogue and peaceful coexistence.

I am not Estonian, I am not Russian.

Alfie, Bournemouth, UK

Totally agree with many people who think that the monument should be removed (note that USSR doesn't mean Russian, but majority of Russians think so).
Despite the fact that my two grandfathers (one from the Western Ukraine and other from Eastern Ukraine) were in the Soviet army during WWII, they wished that USSR and Stalin had never existed.
Let me tell you that my grand grandmother and one of her child died because of famine caused by Kremlin in Ukraine in 1933.
My wife's relatives were sent to Siberia... So, I do understand Estonians very well.
The other thing that Russians emphasize they lost 27 million in the WWII but bear in mind that nearly half of them were Ukrainians.

Serge K., L'viv, Ukraïna

I find it laughable that Russia is so quick to talk about sanctions for a country that removes a statue, yet balks at sanctions for Iran who continuely defies everyone.

ReAp, Rhode Island, USA

it dos'nt matter where the statue is as long as it stands to remind people what they died for.

phil, london, UK

By the way - there are No graves of fallen russsian oldiers under this statue. History knows that only two russian marauders were buries there (killed by a russian officer by the way). So if their remains will be properly re-buried to cemetary, I do not think anyone should feel offended. Talks about russian graveyard or soldiers buried there are pure Russian propaganda. And so what if this statue will be placed to military cemetary? No-one is going to destroy this statue, it will be moved to a place appropraite for it. The symbol of Russian occupation in the middle of Estonian capital city has offended estonians for years.It is time that Estonia will move on with life by our own rules - but that is not what Russia likes us to do. And how this demolishing and robbery what is taking place in Tallinn now sould be accepted by us? Seems most of the rioters do not care about the statue, but rob as many shops as they can. It is right that police arrests them - isn't it that has to be done?

Piret, Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia is a sovereign nation, and Russia should keep quiet-- its ranting and raving will only serve to remind people of the Soviet bullying.

Also, with all the real problems in the world, it appears very very petty for the Kremlin to become so upset about a statue.

thompst, oakland, CA, USA

Let's not forget the facts how the Red Army arrived to Estonia. Implementing the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact in alliance with Nazi Germany, 1940 the Red Army isolated the country practically overnight, while the NKVD (KGB) started to liquidate and deport Estonians to Gulag all around the nation. Tolerating a statue paying tribute to that for this long shows the Estonians have had a lot of tolerance after their 1991 independence from the Soviet. Mr. Putin has to look to his mirror and ask what might have prompted the recent events.

Jerry, Santa Clara, California

Estonians forget their proper place quickly. So emboldened..... until Nato and EU drops them to keep Russia pacified. Oil and gas, my estonian friends, are much more important to the West (which you are not a part of) than you. Cheers.

Alan, los angeles,

Firstly, I am really surprised, that so many europeans have a quite realistic view of the real situation and the history of Estonia. I don`t blame the others about being misinformed. Most of the world has the logic opinion, that what national media says, is commonly true. However, in Russia it is not so. Russian media has already started to twist the facts about the riot and denied removing their own statues in Russia.
The theory, that Estonians admire nazis, is not true. We might think of them with less hate, because they lost the war and did not have a chance to kill or deport thousands of estonians, but we do not admire them.
Someone talked about Normandy and how the French do not have the idea to destroy the monuments of other countries. The other countries did not stay in Franfor 5 decades eighter.
We do not dislike or disrespect russians living in Estonia, but if some of them are not pleased with our country, they have the chance to leave.

Lauri, Tartu, Estonia

Well now, I guess Russians think it that a monument to russian soldiers is sacred. The Russian army was a bunch of damned butchers and would be today if could. How can Russians think for one minute that any freee nation would have a monument to Russian soldiers diplayed in the middle of their capital city?

As I understand it, the monument is to be relocated to military cemetary. By the way, the only reason there was a USSR was the supplies sent by the USA. I wonder if there are any monuments to the men who died on the Murmansk convoys.

Russia is headed backwards. A KGB officer runs the country and wants to take it back to its glory days. Putin cannot be trusted. He is a ruthless man and is a fine example of what a KGB officer should be. Thank God for Ronald Reagan. I think Estonia should put up a statue of him in place of the Russian one. It should be 12 feet high.

The best of luck to the Baltic States for you are free. Freedom is so sweet.

John Potts , Wassila, Alaska USA

Ok... so some information first, because many of the comments show lack of basic historical knowledge.
Estonia, and other Baltic states was captured by Soviets - then allied with Nazis - in 1940, the same happend to Polish eastern teritories in September 39 - when Polish army fought Nazis - Soviets invaded.
Both Nazis and Soviets started campain of terror and genocide in order to eliminate elities of conquered nations.
So the return of Soviet occupation can hardly be considered as freedom, can be?

Z Tuznik, Surrey,

Many of the people praising the achievements of the Red Army in the Second World War seem to forget that for the first two years of the conflict, Hitler and Stalin were allies, yes ALLIES! Stalin collaborated with Hitler in the occupation of Eastern Europe and helped to keep Germany's war machine going by supplying it with oil and other raw materials. The Soviet Union even congratulated Germany for its military victories in 1939-40. In other words, at least during the early stages of the war, the Soviet Union did not help in the fight against nazism in any way. Quite the opposite!

Esa Leskinen, Hämeenlinna , Finland

how many graves, of foreign invading powers there are in russia? besides siberian mass graves? how many monuments of invading powers there are in moscow... and by the way didn't you people had a biggest parade on hitlers b-day?

kas_is_to, Chicago, US

It would seem perfectly logical to me that any indepent nation would have the right to determine the presence and location of any sort of monument and the criteria for such placement.
Russia either does or does not respect the soverignty of an independt nation to determine its own national values, priorities and cultural manifestations.. We shall see.

James Rigney, Yakima, Washington State USA

Just let us call the things by their names. Digging up the graves of the fallen soldiers whoever they are and making that a political act is just nasty and cynical! Yes, let’s call the things by their names: people how doing that are simply fascists or I would dare say suffering from necrophilia.

Near by the city where I live in Russia there are a plenty of cemeteries of German, Italian and Romainan soldiers who died here during the WWII and none of them are replaced or desecrated.

Vadim, Voronezh, Russia

To Alexey Zayko

The monument in Tallinn is also being moved to another location, in this case military cemetary and the bodies of russian soldiers (IF there is any) will be also moved there. The identification work has just started today, to identify soviet soldiers under the monument.

To Ivan Deryagin

No one is going to DESTROY the Bronze soldier. Like I said Few rows before, it's just being moved to more suitable location ( a war cemetary).

Where do YOU take the information that the statue is demolished or being taken apart????

Margus, Tallinn, Estonia

"many of the German officers were sent to jail and even killed for their war crimes. Germany even pays money to jews for the damage they caused. But let's get back to Estonia what do we see there?" says Ivan from Russia.

well let's take a look at what we see - Russia has never paid money to Estonians or anybody else for the damage they caused. the Russian officers who killed Estonian people were never punished - no, Russia expects Estonians to honour them like heroes. see the problem? If we could only get an apology from Russia for all they've done, we could forgive and maybe finally forget. But unfortunately Russia doesn't even admit, that they have ever done anything wrong and denies all their war crimes.

Kati, Tallinn,

I married an Estonian girl whose parents escaped to Finland when the Russians "liberated" Estonia. In terms of treatment prior to the German invasion, they always claimed the Nazi's were civilized, compared to the "barbarians" from the east! Grow up Russia, I thought your bullying days were over.

D'Arcy, Lindsay, Canada

Though I do not have any great love for the Russian policies and it's so called democratic Government, I think it's a horrible lack of respect for the soldiers who fell trying to rid the world of the Nazis. Challenge the Russian Government, but don't dishonor the dead. It's just a statue,"Not a tank"!

Bruce, Yakima, Washington/USA

As a long-time non-Russian member of the Estonian government, I have to say the people are being far too emotional. We have an enormous debt to pay to the Russians and to the Soviets before them. The soon we realize this, and the sooner we start to show them the repesct they deserve for protecting us, the better off we will all be.

Elisabet Martinson, Jogevamaa, Estonia

Also how can you even suggest that Estonia is somehow in favour of nazis, by removing a statue, which reminds us of a horrible time of occupation? We didnt favour nazis, neither did we favour the soviets. FYI, there was a nazi soldier monument removed in Estonia also some time ago. So those conclusions, telling that Estonia is honoring nazis by relocating a soviet statue, is a shortsighted persons logic. Sadly Russians receive all the wrong information from Estonia about our intents and they cannot understand our point of view at all. They just swim along in the propagandic river Russia is creating to diverse focus off their own political problems.

Tanel, Tall, Estonia

Is there any sane human being who would call Stalin a freedom fighter? Bravo Estonia!

John Potts , Wassila, Alaska USA

to Sid, Calgary, Canada
Dear Sid. You has become Independent in 1931. And maybe your nation needs a master which would show you your place but my country has been existing since 8 century. And all what we have been learned by this time it is nobody can't show to us our place in the world. This task we can solve yourselves.

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

Dear Michal, New Haven, USA/CT
Before 1939 was 1938 in Munich where British and France governments together with Hitler and Mussolini solved destiny of Czechia without Czechia's delegation. Chehi were admitted only on a final meeting when all had been solved. After all it Czechia was occupied by Germans, Poles, and Hungarians.
The USSR the unique country which protested and tied to pay attention of League of the Nations to the event in the Europe, but the opinion of my country was ignored.
The democratic countries became to play games to Hitler and allowed him not to observe the Versailles agreements which guarantors they were.

Igor Sturnus, NS, Russia

Right, Ivan, and as Ron very well noted, Estonia fad no other choice then Stalin or Hitler and since they condemn soviet Russia so much, the only other alternative is Nazi Germany, to which they seem more favorable by all standards.

Now, the taking-down of the statue is a political decision, by which they condemn USSR, thus implying that they would be better off with Hitler, which makes it an act of pro-fascism.

Unfortunately for them, fascism is banned in Europe and communism is not, so whether they like it or not, they'll have to answer for what they've done in front of the international community as their act goes indeed against all that EU stands for.

And I'm sure that even though European countries don't like Russia too much, at least Israel will join Russia condemning Estonia.

Mike, Montreal, Canada

In Second World War the Soviet Union, the USA, Great Britain, France and many other countries, people in occupied countries fighted TOGETHER against one enemy - NAZISM and won.
Soldiers, that fighted against NAZISM for our lives and freedom are buried in Tallin under the Monument to soviet soldier. These people knew nothing about any future “occupation”, that you are talking about.

Kate, Moscow, Russia

Estonia was a province of Russian Empire for almost 300 yrs.
After communists riot, run by estonians communist also , Estonia got an independense. During 2nd world war, estonians, at large ,were fighting on the Germans side and inflicted a lot of harm to the russians properties and human lifes. Russia got nothing in contribution yet. May be now it is time to make a claim.
Igor.

Igor , Chaska, USA

About this statue, do you know that between SS fleeing from Tallinn and Red Army vandalizing Tallinn, there were couple of days of Republic? So, this metal soldier, what does he symbolize? Red Army "liberated" Tallinn from Estonians.

The big problem seems to be that history teachers in Tallinn's Russian schools have been teaching history by Soviet textbooks. These contain somewhat different views about what we today know as Estonian history. I wonder if those teachers are paid by someone else and who that might be.

Murph, did USA occupy and perform some ethnical cleaning or deport quarter of population to slavery camps after liberating France?

Yakov: __You do not like the fact that all Roma in Estonia were exterminated by Estonian collaborationists.__
You know, this is quite strong statement. If you say, this is a fact, please provide your evidence about it to newspaper. But as you are a jew, you can allegate everything without a proof, this is your birthright.

Kaido, Tallinn,

I find it incredible that Russians take all the credit for the Soviet work in WW2. So many other nations were involved, such that Russia's claim could be for 50% of all the work.
It's also strange as well as disturbing that Russians today feel any pride whatsoever towards the CCCP, considering that under Stalin they were all slaves, working for the genocide of many nations.

Russians think they have it tough in the Baltics. Considering the Russification of the past, I'd say they are being treated quite fairly, and all of them had a choice to return to Russia, but chose to stay in the Baltics, anyways. They knew then that Russia was a lousy place to be.

The fact is that after the liberation from the Soviets by the Nazis and the Nazi occupation in the Baltics was much more humane than the treatment at the hands of drunken bolsheviks and churks when they returned in 1943.

They should put the Bronze Soldier on show in Gruto Park in Lithuania, where it can be enjoyed.

mike, maynard, Massachusetts

Antony, Estonians removed the monument because Russian communists killed, tortured and sent to Siberia plenty of them for no other reason than being Estonians or not supporting communists murderous ideology.
Comparing Canadians and American troops to Russian Red Army plundering and enslaving the 'liberated' countries is not appropriate. Russians of Putin era seem to glorify the old days of communist regime when they looked down at citizens of former Soviet bloc and not Russian republics.

Andrzej, Toronto, Canada

Your newspaper just publishing anti-russian comments, is this freedom of speech? US participation in WW2 rather ridicilous compare what russians are suffered, the monument is tribute to fallen soldiers not the communist state.

John, NYC, US NY

Yeah, I see, you are trying hard! But actually stay where you are, whatever you do, you are not the company that I would fancy to join.

Catherine, Moscow, Russia

No ethics or any kind of norms. Estonia government has no respect for the fallen soldiers. Lets look at this way 1/3 of a country is ethnically Russian, it must be so disrespectful to them. The president wants to win points with ethnical Estonians to win the election, its so obvious. The riots were foreseeable, what did he expect it’s like someone slaps you in a face and you just going to stand there.

Michael , Vancouver, Canada

Estonia was a ardent part of the Nazi bloc. Ask them what they were doing and on which side when Britain was fighting its war. Short memories you have, dear allies.

Pavel, Rostov, Russia

The Russians did not sacrifice anything and they did not free anybody. They were just another imperialist power occupying power, behaving no better than Nazis. The killed millions of civilians even after WWII. So, now the Russians lost the Cold War and the payback begins.

The only reason the Soviets are still defended by some of their fomer allies in the UK and the U.S. is that Brits and Americans don't want to face their own guilt and responsiblilty in enslaving Eastern Europe.

btw, the French killed a lot of Jews.

Susanne, Pine Ridge, USA

Get your facts straight, the monument was not destroyed and it was never meant to be. Its being moved from downtown to a miliraty cementary, along with the remains buried under the monument.
So stop this nonsense about "they destroyed the monument" please.

Tanel, Tallinn, Estonia

Estonia was integrated into the USSR because Estonia was an ally of the fascists. It was a punitive measure. Had the Poles or Yugoslavs or the Czechs been allies of the Nazi the same integration into the USSR would have befallen them but they fought the nazis and were allowed to keep a semblance of sovereignty after 1945 because of this. They may still complain of being forced into WARPAC but they were never forced into the USSR.

Lets not have any illusions as to the sort of government Estonia had prior to the Soviet invasion in 1940, it was a pro-Nazi dictatorship. NONE of the Baltic states were democracies before WW2. As hard as it might be to accept Stalin did not take away your democracy because you never had it to start with

Fascism is making a comeback in the baltics which is why you see monuments to the SS going up and statues to the red army coming down. Russia has every reason to worry when it sees that

The USSR was an equal opportunity oppressor. Russians suffered to

marko slovanof, new orleasn , US

What are you talking about democracy and freedom? Russian-speaking people in Estonia can't even protest against vandalism of Estonian Government.
Kristel, Kerstin, ... things your government is doing is natural chauvinism. I'm obligated to: pay taxes, learn estonian, be tolerant, integrate. I don't have any other rights at all? No way! You have your own Day of Victory 23 of June, but you don't have tradition to visit your monument of Victory (I have never seen flowers this day. Why?) So the answer is that you hate our traditions.
You are talking about Siberia. Yes I'm agree with you, it is big drama of the 20 century, but this is drama of the all people in the USSR republics. You like to use nationalities, so I'll tell you a secret Stalin wasn't russian. Don't play single victims of the communism, it is wrong. Andrus Ansip was working as instructor of CPSU in Tartu (year 1988), so now he is using his communist experience and methods in Tallinn.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is next?

Andrey, Tallinn, Estonia

The monument was in Estonia. What happened to national sovereignty and why does Russia have any input in the discussion at all? If the French wanted to deface the monuments in Normandy, it would be none of our business, just like if we were to dismantle monuments to our allies in Washington, it would be no one else's business.

Keith, Pittsburgh, PA

Why is it that so many comments say "the Russians did this", "the Russian dids that"? Whatever was done to Estonia was done by the Soviet Union, who by the way, was led by a Georgian, NOT the Russians, not even by a a Russian leader. What happened in the Baltic States happened all over the Soviet Union, including in Russia. No one was exempt. It also strikes me as odd that the majority of those commenting conveniently forget that the Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania supported the Nazis and participated in the Jewish genocide. And finally, why does no talk about how ethnic Russians are treated in the Baltics? Despite living there for decades or longer, AND being a very significant minority, they are treated as second class citizens.

Eric, Baku, Azerbaijan

This article is not correct. You dont explain what this statue means for estonians. Russians occupied Estonia for 50 years. In 1944 they came, killed our men, raped our woman and destroyed our cities.

In 1944 russians destroyed big part of our Old Town (build in 1200-1500)
My grandfather was killed. My mother was sent to Siberia (with her family) when she was 4 YEARS OLD.

And we should tolerate this monument of murderers in the center of Tallinn?

Btw, the monument is not destroyed, it is transported to very respectful cemetary.

estonian, Tallinn, Estonia

Russia did not occupy Estonia after the WWII, Estonia was a part of the USSR before the war by 1940. Before that, approx. 1700 to 1920 it was a part of Russia. The so called Russian minority started to settle there as far as more than 1000 years ago.

As to claims of Richard Brady that Ukrainians won the war - these are laughable to say the least - I think this is a provocation. It was a "front" not a division. There were 5 fronts: 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian and 1st and 2nd Belorussian in the Berlin operation, ASFAIR. The majority of soldiers were ethnic Russians (with of course lots of Ukranians and Belorussians and other USSR nationals). There was no any "Russian" front, because these fronts were named after the places where the fighting took place when they were formed.

If you live in Kiev, go to the memorial on the bank of Dniepr, between Arsenalnaya station and the Lavra - 80% of names of the soldiers there are Russian names.

Eugene, Moscow, Russia

To Anton -- We Americans and Canadians were never totalitarians, worse than even the Nazis were (Hitler gassed those that stayed, Honiker shot those that tried to escape: Hitler killed seven million innocents, Stalin 70 million). We were true liberators and are proud of it. Down with totalitarian communist statues! Long live Free Estonia!!!!

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

Why should Russia try to dictate to Estonia, the placement of a Soviet era memorial? The USSR does not exist and Russia should forget about being the bully of the former members of the USSR. Most of the non-Russian people in the Baltic States hate Russia for the fifty years of Soviet occupation they suffered under. Time for Russia to admit that the USSR is history.

John, Eugene, Oregon USA

March 8th 1944, Soviet bombers bombed Tallinn killing many Estonians. The monument to them is hidden in a out of the way cemetery in Tallinn. The same Red Army soldiers who defeated the Nazi with more than a little help from England, Canada and the US also occuppied Estonia not some distant ancestors.
These were the same Red Army soldiers who systemactically destroyed momuments all across Estonia that commerated the 1917 victory over an earlier Red Army and formed the first Estonia republic. They are the same Red Army soldiers who held the gun to the head of Estonia as they were invited to join the Soviet Union. The same soldiers who ship tens of thousands of Estonians to Siberia, eecuted people, burned books, siezed homes and displaced peasent farmers.

Yes, this is the same Red Army, many times the very same men this statue represents to many Estonians. The statues represents deatUnlike the Russian invaders Estonias were not destroying the Bronze Soldiers but moving to a cemetery

Terry, Stratford, CT USA

It's about time EU and NATO stood up to Russia. Russians need to know that they still pose a threat and they are not liked for their behavior. What's next - cutting off gas and natural resources? This should not stop EU do whatever it deems as a truly free continent.

Alex, New York, USA

You can not compare this occasion with US army liberating Holland or Belgium. Or are you stating that americans occupied and killed 1/3 habitants of country they were in? No. When Soviet troops came into (for example) Tallinn they raped, they killed and they looted. Stalin gave an order (actually 2 of them in different years) to deport people to Siberia? Almost every estonian has some relative, who was deported by russian powers. Following 50 years were like a nightmare to every estonian. For example, if you told something negative about some USSR party leader you went to jail. I think that russian have a right to demonstrate their feelings about their folks, but if it goes out looting and accusing estonia on wrong facts through russian media is wrong! Bronze-soldier was removed to prevent upcoming conflicts between russians and estonian extremists. Streetfights between them could been even worse than situations at the moment.

Joosep, Tallinn, Estonia

I think that the Russians should take a flying leap at themselves, and wake up to the fact that Estonia no longer belongs to them, and that they are free to decide what they display and remember within their democratic borders.

Philip Golan, Natanya, Israel

Perhaps the moral norms were not thought in school and by their parents to those people how are doing that. And saying frankly they have no heart and conscience! It is filthy to do that! Whoever those soldiers are they rest now where they have died where they were fighting for their principles, for the truth and justice and not for the ‘occupation’ of an independent country. Look at all these fancy speculations on the occupation of Estonia or suppression of Estonian people by Stalin’s regime. For Estonia it is just another attempt to get more points for it’s political reputation. By doing this they just attract attention from the world which is populated not by people I would say, but by the ‘media-sapiens’, i.e. by people who used to think by getting information from that biased pro american TV channels washing our brains with celebrity of ‘democracy’ and ‘freedom’!

Oxana, Kuznetsk, Russia

First, Russia did not loose 27 mllion people in WWII. Russia forced Ukrainan and other slave soldiers to fight their figtht. And the 27-million-figure includes Russianx kiled by Stalin, i.e. their own people.

Second, not only did Stalin kill more people than Hitler, what the Russians did in the Baltics was genocide. Up to ten percent of the population was killed under the occupation, many were deported to Gulags, not only in Estonia, also in Lithunia, (and many other countries).

And yes, Russia won the war which is the reason nobody could talk about this, but the West won the Cold War, Dimitry. Deal with it!

However, the interesting question is: What wil the United States do? The U.S. sided with Stalin in WWII and sold out Eastern Europe at Yalta. Today, however, Estonia is an ally of the U.S. and sent soldiers to Iraq. Russia tried to sabotage the war and vetoed it in the U.N. Security Council. That obliges the U.S. to help Estonia.

Susanne, Pine Ridge, USA

Would the Nazis have been defeated without the red army?
Be proud of the statue of the red soldier. Enough of this pro Bush crap.

aeskylos, Buffalo, NY

Specially for Russian nationalists. Attempts to label victory in the WWII as "Russian victory" are no better than grave-digging in Tallinn. Berlin was not taken by Russians -- I mean, Russians alone. You conviniently forget Ukrainians, Belorussians, Poles, Jews, Uzbeks, Georgians and, __YES__ Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians, who fought and died there. Attempts to steal someone's glory diminish your (your grandfathers', to be more precise) sacrifice in the WWII.

Cynic_, Riga, Latvia

To Murph,

The problem wasn't about the statue standing there. It was there for 15 years and Estonians never made a fuss. Problem occured, when it became a place where Russian people started to undermine our government. Red flags, Soviet anthem, chanting anti-Estonian commens and symbols of Soviet Union are not appropriate to our capital city centre.

Kristiina, Jõhvi,

The debate over what this statue symbolises to different people should be ignored as the views of both sides can be justified. The democratically elected government of independent Estonia has the full right to follow the interpretation of the majority of its electorate and do what it feels is right to a statue on its own soil without consulting a foreign government (as long as it does not conflict with any international conventions). The Duma should realize this and it is likely that its reaction only enhances the ill-feeling among Estonians towards its neighbours imperial past.

Ian K, London, UK

i dont think many of the estonians who had been under Nazi rule are living now.And of the living few, majority wont be in the net.So the comments i see are probably far from truth.Personally i dont think statue breaking is a civilised way of protesting against atrocities

Prasoon, Thalassery, India

This type of action divides people along national origin and tunes nations to take tit for tat.

Acting in such a way during peace time, when facilitating peace and building bridges between nations should be the first priority of our leaders is unworthy of a civilized nation Estonia is.

miron, seattle, us

To Andrew from Newcastle:

How's the english* struggle for "freedom" and "democracy" in Iraq?

chris, Vancouver, Canada

To Marton from Budapest, Hungary:

"Not to mention their own interpretation of facts."

Apparently, you have your own interpretation of facts as well.

chris, Vancouver, Canada

Damm Right, Ivan, and as Ron very well noted, Estonia fad no other choice then Stalin or Hitler and since they condemn soviet Russia so much, the only other alternative is Nazi Germany, to which they seem more favorable by all standards.

Now, the taking-down of the statue is a political decision, by which they condemn USSR, thus implying that they would be better off with Hitler, which makes it an act of pro-fascism.

Unfortunately for them, fascism is banned in Europe and communism is not, so whether they like it or not, they'll have to answer for what they've done in front of the international community as their act goes indeed against all that EU stands for.

And I'm sure that even though European countries don't like Russia too much, at least Israel will join Russia condemning Estonia.

Mike, Montreal, Canada

Looks like the Estonian goverment has solved all the outstanding issues and problems facing Estonia. And now having nothing better to do are solving other issues like digging up graves, moving statues, and dredging up old sentiments.

May be out politicians should learn problem solving skills from fellow Estonians. Then; on to moving statues and digging graves...

Martin, Chicago, Il/USA

Born and raised in the USSR, I was taught that WWII was won by the Soviets. The "Soviets" included EVERYONE who lived in the Soviet Union, there were no distinctions as far as nationalities. As such I was unaware that, for example, in Estonia, the Nazis were SUCCCESSFUL in establishing 22(!) SS divisions during WWII. As the USSR, starting in 1941, was obviously fighting AGAINST the Nazis, it is only understandable that they would fight against the SS divisions in Estonia. Sadly, Estonians have to admit that before they became part of the USSR, 90% percent of Estonia were Estonians by nationality. This, to some degree, speaks of the character of their nation during WWII. They were fighting against the USSR even before they became part of it and cannot cry that they were fighting for independence as they were not "occupied" in 1941, 1942, 1943, and part of 1944. They were fighting on the Nazis (!) side. It is unjust to paint the USSR in the light that only suits Estonia best.

Galina, New York, USA

It has been said a lot of words here about Estonian independence, which is quite an interesting subject itself deserving a separate discussion but let me say just few things about it because this can help to understand the Estonian government behavior.

Until quite recently there was no such a state as Estonia. They had their independence for about 30 years and that was granted for them by communists as prize for helping the Red Army to kill a lot of the White Army (that fought to restore the Tzar regime) soldiers, officers and their family members. So Estonians built their state by helping the communists to spill the blood of their enemies.

Before 1918 there was no Estonian state whatsoever – it was just a group of villeins whose only desire was to find a better master. Till quite recently it was the Russian empire and than Soviet union, at the moment they prefer to serve to their new masters from EU whose cities are full of migrants from exUSSR Baltic republics. Estonians spe

Roman, Tyumen,

Free Estonia.
Russia OUT of Eesti

TC, Foothills, California

What is amazing to me is all the comments in this forum of how Stalin oppressed the Estonian people, and how that somehow counteracts the defeat of Hitler. That fact is that Stalin oppressed all people under the social experiment called the Soviet Union. It was the cold heart of Stalin, and his brutal sacrifice of 27 million Red Army soldiers, that stopped Hitler. A sacrifice no other nation made. A sacrifice that is terrifying to imagine if it had not happened.

Additionally, the fact of the matter is that Western Europe and its arrogance has never held the proper respect for this sacrifice. And now, apparently with influence from the EU, Eastern Europe is also losing their respect. Poor form is all I would like to say to the Estonian government.

Support to Russia. Russia: Know there is at least one westerner that appreciates your sacrifice.

Andrew, Lansing, USA, MI

Have you found any second ww german monument in the UK?
No more question!

Akos, Komarom, Hungary

Some of the earlier comments left seemed to suggest the Russia is trying to make a mountain of a molehill over a statue. Human civilization throughout the ages is filled with symbolism as a sign of respect. I wonder whether Estonians would consider the Red Army liberation as freedom from the Nazi jackboot or otherwise. I personally wouldn't have cared if it had been Stalin's statue but it irks me to see the symbolic appreciation for the millions of soldiers who laid down their lives in the War was considered Soviet oppression. It seems that this recent move by the Estonian government reeks of pro-Nazi idealogy.

I also would like to ask my American friends who are rubbishing the whole incident: Would you do the same if our government decides to demolish the Vietnam War memorial? This act is an insult to every man and woman who laid down their lives for the country and identity.

Valdislav Naryshkin, Valdislave, TX

Alexey Estonian goverments decision was based on voting by Estonians,prepartations for it took almost a year- those people who have thought to be families of those men bured were also asked if they were okay with DNA testing and burying into army cementary.Where is disrespecting here?Today they started works to make their way to the remains,even there is Russian holy person who reads prays for those souls by beliefes they had during their earthly life.These sorry to be rude but snot noses youngsters in Tallinn and beeing paid by Night Watch 80 kroons in an hour to go against police,they are breaking in into expensive boutiques and stealing jewelry and designer clothing-where in this comes in statue?This has nothing to do with statue but wanting to thieve and break and just be silly.

Ly, Birmingham,

Europe needs to put the past behind it and through the European Union work towards a brighter future.

Nobody wins historical debates. As a people, Europeans can spend their time bickering over small things and end up as small individual isolated countries with no presence on the world stage. Or Europeans can spend their time seeking common ground and work towards building a more perfect European Union.

It won't be an easy process. It will be hard work. Choosing compromise over conflict; passion over prejudice and forgiveness over inter-generational hatred is what this generation of Europeans owes the next generation of Europeans.

Only a strong economic European Union can help ensure the spread of global prosperity through trade, education and internet connectivity to poorer parts of the third world.

Europe can become a beacon of human progress or a quagmire of inter-generational fratricide.

The choice is yours.

Forgive and live free or hate and suffer.

James Gingerich, Waterloo Ontario, Canada

Russia is not liked by many of the former satellite countries or former republics. Can't blame them. Putin is on a power trip and wants to see how far he can push the EU (and at other times, the US). Russia is not a superpower. The US, EU, China...they are the Great Powers in the world. Russia should know it's place.

Sid, Calgary, Canada

I think that Estonian must think what was done in Iraq and Ireland
They have the similar problem. They have a war between two different parts of population (protestants and catholics, shia and sunni, estonian and russians). One part of a nation is ready to fight by mean of terrorism or gorilla fight again another part of the nation

The built many security and peaceline walls in Ireland. They are building separate wall in Baghdad The same can be done in Ireland to separate aggresive Russian minority

Andrei, Winterthur, Switzerland

Look back on your own history, the United States has its share of genocides around the world, and believe it or not, has it not been the sacrifice of those Red Army soldiers, Nazi Germany would have wiped out your D-Day landing. If you look at allied propaganda during the war, they depicted a very different Russia than you were taught during the cold war.
Regardless of politics, the Red Army soldiers sacrificed just as much if not more for the common goal of defeating Nazi Germany, they deserved to be honored just as much as any American soldier, to say they are any different only reflect the horrifying ignorance and brainwashing that has sweep the west today.

Meng, Toronto, Canada

When Eastern Europe is dominated by Russians, Russia feels safe. When not, as we see with two World Wars, eastrern europeans countries are dominated by another agressor against Russia. Recent enlargement of NATO proves that once more...
Aren't we, Russians, forced to dominate Eastern Europe for our safety? Now we can not, but who knows?
Stupid and very unhappy situation...

Andrei, Moscow, Russia

Dear Igor Sturnus,
It is obvious that you have grown up on Russian propaganda and have a very narrow view of European history. Before the start of WWII Stalin made a pact with Hitler. Communist Russia and Nazi Germany were allies and they both invaded countries like Poland, Estonia and Latvia... It took many days after Hitler invaded Russia for stalin Stalin to come to terms with the fact that he was no longer Hitler's friend. When the tide of the war turned and the Red Army moved their offensive west towards Germany, the communist machine moved right behind them, murdering torturing or sending off to Siberia whole families of decent people who tried to stand up for their countries. Is this liberation? How many thousands of Polish officers were murdered in Katyn? For how many years did the Russian government lie about it? I feel sorry for you and all the generations of Russians who believe in this endless river of lies. This latest rant from the Kremlin is more of the same.

Michal, New Haven, USA/CT

Their memory can still be honored. Let the monument be given to Russia to be placed in their own memorial. As for the soldier's remains, if I were missing a relative, I would want them identified and returned to me. Estonia is a free society now. What is next? Punishment for Germany because they torn down the wall??

JC, Oklahoma City,

It's very simple - Estonia, Latvia etc. were let into EU to isolate and irritate Russia. Look at Poland's stance against the gay people (mostly men), it just shows what a bunch of backward states some of the new EU membars are. However, gay rights are well respected across the old EU and Poland will tow the line, unfortunately the rights of Russian minorities in Baltic states do not get so much media coverage hence Estonia and Latvia go on abusing them and the old Democtatic EU and its media.. well do they care? Hypocrites!

Fedor, London, UK

I agree with those taking an anti-Estonia stance.

The Soviet Union, like it or hate it, saved Europe from fascism by sacrificing themselves (27 million dead) for the greater good.

The statue commemorated this sacrifice. Period.

But some instead decide to preach politics of hate and revenge, mostly based on the revision of history. Ah, history. Lest we forget that Estonia did not exist as a country until 1918 when Lenin made it one and that partisans in the Baltics and Croatia sided with the Nazis and assisted in the Holocaust.

I think that humanity has been wounded because of this hateful act and that Estonia has opened up a door that will weaken it and its allies.

james b., new york, ny

Russia did not free Europe, including Baltic states. They ocupied it. And they cant be called liberators. For us in Baltic states Soviet army soldiers are killers and ocupiers first of all. It's dificult to find a family in Baltics which wouldnt be touched by atrocities commited by 'liberators''. Their behaviour was much worse than nazies and it's a huge injustice that their crimes werent condamned like nazies. It's well known fact that comunists killed more people than nazies so how can somebody speak about supremacy of one of these ideologies. Their both huge evil.
Me and majority people in Baltics absolutely justify decision to remove this memorial cause it's a huge insult for the victims of 'liberators' regime.

Simas, Vilnius, Lithuania

There is too much ethnic Russians in my country, Estonia - almost 1/3. If there will be less of them, we will live better. We try to make them leave from Estonia, but they dont want. They are happy to stay in Estonia. But if you want to stay in Estonia, please behave as you told by Estonian people, and not your Russian friends.

Laine, Tallinn, Estonia

I would like to point , that Estonia was a collaborator of the Nazi Germany during the WWII. They did not only fight with the Russian Army, they also were fighting against British and American soldiers on the Western front, took an active part in killing innocent people only because they were Jews or Gypsy.

marina, Chaska, USA

First of all let me remind all of You again, that the statue is NOT to be removed, but merely reallocated to a more proper location.
Also I would like to point out that Estonians are being called nazis and neo-nazis by Russians whos own motivating force in doing so is their "russkaja dusha". So who is being nationalist here?
Russian perception of the world is well known in Estonia -"liberators of Europe and winners of the war". We have been taught the same history lessons back in Soviet times. We did not believe though what was taught to us (being under occupation), but we can understand if Russians did.
However we can't understand/forgive the brutal actions, last couple of days, against people and property. No monument is justification for vandalism.
Last point - Russias reaction was very predictable - elections are approaching. I just pray there will be more Russian politicians like former president Jeltsin who was not afraid to step aside the totalitarian path.

Aarne, Tallinn, Estonia

"If French decide to dig American or Canadian military burial places in Normandy what would you say?"

The Canadians left. The Russians stayed.

Estland, Tallinn, Estonia

There were just two sides in WWII -- Nazi Germany and its minions and anti-Axis block, consisting of great Western democracies and also of a ragtag bunch of regimes, starting from Latin American dictatorships and ending with Red Chinese and Red Koreans and -- yes -- Uncle Joe Stalin, with all that innocent blood on his hands. But the number of the sides is still two, not three or five. And one can choose just one side -- Hitler's or Allied (and, yes, Stalin's). Refusal to take the Allied side (with Joe Stalin smiling in his moustache in the background) automatically means the choice of Hitler's side. As simple as that. It's time for the modern Republic of Estonia (and Latvia, and Lithuania, and Poland...) to choose which side in the WWII to place its sympathy onto.

Cynic_, Riga, Latvia

they claim that they broke the German authority back in World War II and we should be thankful for that... and after tht called „liberation“ they forced our grandmothers and -fathers and their children into trainwagons which were used to transport animals from one place to another and took them from their HOME to Siberia. And after that they think they have the right to say, that they’re rioting in OUR capital becauuse of what WE have done to THEM??????
My heart is CRYING to use dirty words here, but i want my comment to appear in print.

ave, tallinn, estonia

Well if YOU don't live here and see, what's going on, who WE have to live with, with your own eyes - then you have no right to say a thing about the decisions of out politicians.
The russians say, that WE are fascists and they are repressed in Estonia.. but WHY the hell do they want to live here??? why won't they take their belongings and move to russia???
They can’t say that they don’t want to leave because they were born and raised here and this is their home. There are cities in Estonia wher you may be kicked the hell out of you if you speak Estonian. some of them are even proud that they have lived here for i don't know how long and they don't speak Estonian. it would be unthinkable for an Estonian to live in russia and not speak russian. that shows how tolerant we are... russians who live here think, that russian should be second official language in Estonia. WHY??? why should OUR nation suffer for their lazyness??
to be continued....

ave, tallinn, estonia

I am surprised to see that discussants ignore obvious and most important things: 1. before the Estonian authorities declared they were to remove the statue, there were PEACEFULL demonstrations (both pro- and anti-) of few people, and now, after their action - VIOLENT RIOTS and kiling, and actually the new violent ethnic conflict in the EU (I wonder who can now claim this act of the Estonian authorities to be reasonable!); 2. the Soviet "occupation" meant that ethnic Estonians were ruling the country, and the Estonian Prime-Minister who started that crisis some days ago was himself a top Communist Party official in Tallinn before independence. So most of the comments on this tragedy simply manifest individual positions, i.e. anti-Russian (pro-Estonian in a hardline ethnonationalists' version). It is a pity, but it gives no grounds to actual discussion.

Anatoly, Moscow,

What do you REALLY know about Second World War?
Why "Times" imagine accident with Bronze Soldgier as "ethnic" conflict between russians and estonians?
All young boys and girls who protested against are BORN
in Estonia! Why Estonian goverment provocate conflict between different parts of society? And why EU support
it? I don't know what do you want , but maybe Yougoslavia and Iraq are enough for us?

svis, Russia,

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

Russia did not give any freedom, they fought the Nazis which was good but then they acted the same as nazis and still do. Now let them go back to Russia and mind their own bussiness and take their statue with them.

They threaten every nation with "seriouse action" if they don't get their way, whats that murdering like nazis did?

me, estonia, estonia

I don't think that Russians understand that they did not freed us and some other nation doesn't know what means to be under some other nation.Maybe Russia tell next that didn't send our people to Siberia in 1941 and 1945.Russia politics bring attention to Estonia because they don't want to solve their own problems.At the 2 WW Russians destroyed our monuments and Estonia removed nazi monument in Lihula 2003,but then nobody rebelled.Now Ansip relocated monument and Russians think that its taken to garbage dump.Monument would be in Tõnismäe,but thanks to the marauders its taken away.Don't blame Estonian government contraire blame marauders.

Mario, Tallinn, Estonia

1. Specially for Estonian (and other Baltic) nationalists, as well as for Western-based cold-warriors.
Attempts to misinform the readers do not any good to your cause. Estonia before WWII was nether free nor democratic. As well as Latvia and Lithuania it was Franco\fascists type autocratic dictatorship (maybe somewhat milder, but so what). That easy-reading Wikipedia is a good place to check. Also, Soviet soldiers who died on the Baltic soil relieved pressure from the Allied troops fighiting on the bload-soaked beachheands in Normandy, Italian mountains and jungles of Burma. All of them -- regardless of their uniform, Soviets, British, Canadian, US, Polish, French, whatever -- fought for the common cause. One simply can not separate them. You can reject both sides in the WWII, of course, but then get the hell out of the UN, NATO and EU -- all of these are organizations founded by the victors of the WWII.

Cynic_, Riga, Latvia

Stalin cut the deals with Germany to allow the invasion of Poland and begin WWII. Russia was nothing but the lesser of two evils. Congratulations on freeing yourselves from the shackles of Stalinist opression and Genocide.

Abe, Vacaville, USA

'Amazingly, Russians forget to notice how themselfs treat their own monuments to fallen "heroes".
= that is why we will dig up the graves of Russians in Estonia and will feed dogs with their barbarian bones, yes? what are they doing in YOUR Estonia?
well, very wise and human...
according to european human standards, of course
and now it would be wise to bury bones of nazi Estonians which werer lying under HItler army on that even place and to erect a monument in their honor

Spuntik, Denver, Colorado

This is really a question of respect. It is estimated that around 20 million Russians lost their lives in the second world war. When you bear that in mind, you can understand why Russians feel so hurt and insulted by the demolition of this memorial. Whatever we may think of the Soviet regime, we have to recognize that we (and the Estonians) owe a lot to the ordinary Russian soldiers who died in fighting the Nazis. They were not responsible for the post-war policies of the Soviet regime. Their sacrifice should be respected and not muddled with present-day Estonian politics.

Jennifer, Moscow, Russia

Russia is now a chauvinisic and imperialistic state and a big danger for Europa-especially for all Eastern European countries.Russia dont accept free and independent nations-
European Union is a ridiculous organiztaion - a bunch of idiots -ready to sell freeedom and democracy of Untermenschen

Aris, Lithuania,

Surely it is entirely a matter for the Estonian people and its government what monuments are allowed in their country.

Russia 's attitude simply proves that they have not accepted that Estonia is now an independant country.

Pat Thornton, Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Igor Sturnus’s remarks range from partially true to downright fantastical. The USSR did help greatly to defeat fascism, but it imposed an equally vile rule of dictatorship and terror upon Eastern Europe for a further 46 years. The statue in Estonia symbolises not Soviet liberation but Soviet tyranny, which the Red Army imposed and guaranteed. The USSR, a Nazi ally until June 1941, occupied independent Estonia in 1940 and began mass deportations of Estonians from 1941. At the end of WW2, instead of allowing the Baltic States to regain their independence, the USSR remained there and killed or deported 70,000 Estonians between 1945 and 1949. At the same time, Russians were transported into Estonia to consoliate the Soviet occupation. While allowing other Warsaw pact countries their freedom, Gorbachev refused the Baltic States their independence in 1991, with Soviet troops storming the TV towers/centres in Vilnius and Riga. Today Putin, with his posturing, represents the same threat.

wilson, London, UK

Igor


FIRSTLY - the memorial will be RELOCATED to a military cemetery eventually (obviously hte sooner, the better), and NOT DEMOLISHED. It is being currently kept at an undisclosed location. The reason being that since the said memorial attracts ethnic Russian and Estonian extremists it would be safer to not have it in the city centre.

True - the Red Army soldiers liberated East Europe - but they also stayed for 47 years as occupiers. So what if Nazis were even worse. This cannot exonerate the crimes committed by the Soviet regime. There lies the controversy - to Estonians the soldier represents the Soviet hardships whereas Russians obviously see it as honouring their war dead. And these views need not be necessarily mutually exclusive.

Kaarel, Tallinn, Estonia

I agree that Red Army had a great part in defeating fascism, but for Estonia they were just occupants. Thousands and thousands of Estonians died in Siberia because of Soviet regime, thousands had to emigrate - is this something Estonia should be happy and thankful about? Remember, Estonians have never asked or forced Russians to come and live in Estonia,Russians could very well go back to their home country - but they don't. Why, if life in Estonia is so bad? Isn't is normal, that if you live somewhere you try to learn the language, culture, values of this country? These criminal riots demonstrate that Russians think otherwise, even more - they do not care for the beautiful town they live in.They are still foreigners...

Kristi, Tallinn, Estonia

We are all aware of the tremendous loss of life suffered by Russia during WW11. However following the defeat Germany, the USSR did not bring freedom to Europe it simple imprisioned eastern european countries for 50 years and in many instances use brutal force to maintain control. All monuments to fallen soldiers should be honoured by all countries but one can see the Estonian Goverments problem if the monuments is being used by pro Russian elements in the counrty for calls for the return of Russian interference in the country.

Dave, Mold, Flintshire

Apparently Russian government have their own interpretation of freedom, liberation, democracy and that sort of things. Not to mention their own interpretation of facts.

Marton, Budapest, Hungary

As I personally saw, most of rioting people were just interested in smashing and burning the city. It had nothing to do with their claims about disturbing the peace of fallen soldiers. In addition by some sources, no remains are buried there at all.

First russia* should overlook their own acting in removal of their own monuments. If russia* is to raise it's status in Europe's eyes, an apology must be published as fast as possible.

Capital letters were not used on purpose to show my feelings about russia.

Andrew, Newcastle,

It's pitty that Stalinism is still alive in Russia.
It's pitty that nationalist Russians don't understand that the 4 years of German occupation of the baltic countries are no worse than the 40 years of occupation by USSR.
To have a statue to the USSR invaders and occupiers is simply insane and shows that there is still a USSR like mentality east of the border!

Michael Blesh, London, UK

I'm British and was in Estonia the day the Kusk went down, Russia was in forced oppressive occupation since the war, many Russians often from the military families of occupation have stayed behind because they prefer Estonia to Russia. Russia needs to understand true democracy the statues are representative of the severe oppressionon over 60 years - Simply put it is not your country anymore, in fact it never was, but you destroyed many peoples lives including your own over three generations - back off Russia - in peace this time

ridge, Brighton, UK

Some words about Moscow monument - it's still alive. Alex from Tallinn forgot to say that this information is just a stupid joke.

Eugenij, SPb, Russia

If it was not for the sacrifices of Russian people, there would have been no free Europe, without Russia the Allies could never have defeated Nazis. This is akin to dismantling holocaust memorial in Paris, although French did not kill any Jews.

John Grandee, London,UK, UK

I really regret for some time that our soldiers had to cross belorussian border in 1944 and and keep on sacrivicing their lifes while moving to Berlin. Europeans are just not worthy of their precious blood. Hope we will never this again.

Catherine, Moscow, Russia

Russians say that they freed Estonia and they did at the beginning,but why did they stay in Estonia and destroyed our monuments.Russians who live in Estonia can go to the Russia if they want.School teachers even in Russian schools tell the history wrong.I'm glad that the Bronze soldier is gone!!!!

Eestlane, Tallinn, Estonia

Igor there is no guranatee that there are soldiers buried, like everything in USSR was done in secret and information you got wasnt always true.If there are,would you want those men to be buried in cementary and have their own graves,because thats what goverment is doing, they are going to cementarty and they are going to be DNA tested to find their families.We are not brutal people,we were not even brutal to Rssians when we got out of Soviet Union,our end in Russia was 3 baltic states people holding hands and singing.Why do you treat Estonia with disrespect?We havent killed russian men,our families have got killed and we still let russians to be in estonia without visas,estonian passports and let them have their own schools-we have no such thing for germans.Russia didnt free,its not freeing when you take this country over,its same like Germany was freeing with nazism.50 years tolerating Moscow rules was enough-stop treating us like we are not humans with no rights to our own country.

Ly, Birmingham,

May 9th, a day of victory for Allies, signifies the beginning of a terror occupation that lasted half a century for the Baltic countries and many others. All Estonians have grandparents or other relatives executed, deported to Siberia or tortured in KGB cells. The monument was erected in the centre of Tallinn, just below the Parliament, in the midst of other national symbols, to remind Estonians of the presence of occupants.
Also, I remind you, that the original decision of the Estonian government was not to remove the statue as such, but to exhume and identify the persons resting in the war grave (again: in central Tallinn. This is not a proper resting place. The place of the dead is at the cemetery, where their memory can be respectfully mourned) and remove them, along with the statue (that goes with the graves) to a proper cemetery - that of the Estonian Defence Forces. Where they would lie alongside with soldiers from Estonian army, the Brits and the Dutch.

Tom, Tallinn, Estonia

To Alex of Tallinn. I think you have learnt a lesson that you cannot indefinitely mock and humiliate Russians. We Jews remember what you did to us in your country in 1941-1944. You exterminated 100% of Estonian Roma. Russians came as liberators!

Yakov Sher, London, UK

Estonian premier Mr. Ansip said that by rumors the Monument was erected at the site of burial of two drunken Russian soldiers – victims of road accident in 1945. Russians in Estonia took it as a deliberate insult (which it was), it aggravated already tense situation. The roots of the crisis lie much deeper. After Estonia became independent the majority of Russians were deprived of citizenship and their political rights. At the same time the veterans of Nazi SS division are hailed as heroes. The demolition of the Monument was only a last straw.

Nata, Riga,

Obviously this would still be a monument in any other place so the opposition to its removal is more proof that present day Russian is still trying to project power, not militarily as before, not by economic imperialism as evidenced by the gas threats to western europe, but by moralistic persuasion when all else fails.
This isn't about a cemetery or the remains of the fallen, but about a statue after all.

Tom, LA, USA

I think the moderator is arranging the readers' comments. Your paper is trying to portray the problem in terms of conflict between Estonians (oppressed) and Russians (oppressors). You select comments from "angry Russians" and "reasonable" others to match your vulgar tittle (cries blasphemy).

My earlier attempts to show that the problem is much broader than just a "conflict between the Estonians and Russians were censored off and did not appear with other comments.

Certainly, you do no not like Jewish voices in this discussion! You do not like the fact that all Roma in Estonia were exterminated by Estonian collaborationists.

I have to register this fact and make your censorship policies known.

Regards.

Yakov Sher, London, UK

I don't blame Russia for being upset! Thousands of Russians gave there lives on the road to free Estonia during WW II. This would be like the French and Belgians defacing American WWII monuments in their countries. That statue should be viewed as a memorial to the men who fought and died...not their government at the time. Here in my town, as in many across the south, there is a Confederate soldier statue in front of the Court house. I've never heard any white or black suggest it should be removed because of its ties to the confederacy and slavery. Its a matter of respect for the fallen!

Murph, Madisonville, USA/KY

it's so utterly weird to hear people saying that estonians are so cruel to russians...but what about all the estonians - kids and elderly who were taken to siberia by russians when they "liberate" estonia...people who spent years in russian prision as they just looked suspicious?...and while in russia they blow up similar monuments and it doesn't even reach to news, suddenly one in estonia has such a meaning...and estonian government is just relocateing the monument not just throwing it away...anyway...last 2 nights have snown that all this has nothing do to with politics...just russian need to controll estonia...and young drunk russians haveing the need to vandalize...and russian politics being as kids in sand-box

Kristel, Tallinn, Estonia

It´s funny how some people would think Soviet union somehow freed us, cause hearing from the ones that actually lived through it, Russias occupation was far much worse to us than German!

Kerstin, Tallinn, Estonia

Geesh russians think that they are heroes...Heroes of what?Killing and torturing us,sending us to Siberian?They're not better than Hitler was...and they never will be...I think that if they so want to play heroes they should go back to russia with bronze man and live happily ever after!

kristi, jõgeva, estonia

Igor, Estonia wasn't "made free" by the Allied victory. Estonia went from being occupied by Germany to being occupied by the Soviets. One lot were as bad as the others.

Ron Frost, Beijing, China

Well let's all chill a little, and think.

First of all if I am not mistaken facism is illegal in Europe, and many of the German officers were sent to jail and even killed for their war crimes. Germany even pays money to jews for the damage they caused. But let's get back to Estonia what do we see there? The people that were fighting on Hitlers side in that war are considered to be heroes or smth, even though the toughest and the most awful crimes were not commited by German officers, but by the collaborators that tried to show their worthiness for Hitlers empire. They have their parades and so on.

And remember this happens in a country that is a member of the European Union. Well lets be honest to each other and say that facism was ok just because Stalin was a rough terrorist.

There are monuments to Russian soldiers in Germany and i don't think that it is even remotely imaginable that German authorities will demolish them.

The monument to the russian SOLDIERS in Estonia is not a

Ivan Deryagin, Moscow, Russia

Dimitri Russians may have won this war- but we are not Russians! For us there is no win in it, for us this statue is mark left from 50 years beeing cut out of rest of world and thinking americans,brits etc are nasty people who are after poisioning us-first time out of Eastern Europe i realised how wonderful people are living in the UK and how nice people after 1991 started to visit Estonia and we saw all the brainwash that USSR goverment did was wrong.You as a russian did not suffer any family beeing murdered-estonians,latvians,lithuanians you name it did.We are proud of our democartic sociesty,we welcome even Russians staying in Estonia,as long as respect comes to our nation from your side too.That is intresting how Russians see communism as win of war,but soviet countries remember it as painful memory,maybe because your grandparents were not transported without warning to Siberia in animal wagon.

Ly, Birmingham,

Fair play to the Estonians! Why should they need a reminding what the Russians did for them in WW2? The Russians very kindly replaced a brutal Nazi regime with an equally brutal Communist one. The Russians didn’t plough through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania for the benefit of the Baltic residents, they did it simply to have access to the Baltic ports, with the added bonus of having a few million more people under their ideological thumb. As usual in these “Regime Changes”, thousands of dissidents disappeared into the oblivion of the Gulags, if they weren’t killed beforehand. Monuments to these anywhere?
I sincerely hope that the EU will back the Estonians to the hilt in this, as most of the old EU members, together with the US, allowed the Russians to hang the old “Iron Curtain” countries out to dry all those years ago. The Russian soldiers were brainwashed into thinking that they were only fighting fascism, but we all know that there was a patently obvious ulterior motive, resulting in much of Europe being locked up for fifty years. Had it not been for the ambitious power-hungry Soviets transplanting their own people to maintain control, there wouldn’t even be a Russian minority in Estonia now.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

Let me remind Igor in Rusia, and to most of the people living in the West, that Russia invaded Estonia after the first World War and killed many of its soldiers and that it was the Ukrainian First Division, not Russians, that took Berlin in the 2nd World War. Russia has tried to ignore that inconvenient fact when declaring that they beat the Nazis. It was Ukrainian soldiers used as cannon fodder by Russia that suffered the most. Russia likes to distort historical facts when it suits them and to always treat itself as the hero when, in fact, it is often the villain. I hope nobody in Western Europe or U S is fooled by this 'Russian outrage'.

Richard Brady, Kiev, Ukraine

Independent Estonia was conquered by the USSR. Then the eradication of the Estonian nation had been put on course. Ten per cent of Estonians were dragged from their homes then deported to Siberia and elsewhere on account of their nationality. Many have perished. Their place was filled by Russian colonists and more Russians were poured in by the Soviet state so as to do dilute the ethic homogeneity of Estonia. It is rather odd that whilst left-wingers in the West seem to lose much sleep over Jews having settled on land that was that of their forefathers after all and that is under dispute anyway, they find nothing wrong with a World empire taking over a small country, decimating its population and pack its land by foreign colonists. This double standard is weird, indecent and breathtaking. Why to expect a country to celebrate the army of a fascist type state that conquered them? Russians make a mistake by identifying with the failed USSR that there is no more. So do whinging westerners.

Andras Bereznay, London, UK

The story about Khimki (not Jinki) told here is quite a piece of Estonian Nazi propaganda. First, the monument and bodies of pilots were moved to nearby memorial cemetry in agreement with Local Coucil of War Veterans. It was not unilateral decision of local authorities. Second, there is no plan to build anything in place of former monument to war pilots. Third, no remains were lost.

Alexey Zayko, Moscow, Russia

Well let's all chill a little, and think.

First of all if I am not mistaken facism is illegal in Europe, and many of the German officers were sent to jail and even killed for their war crimes. Germany even pays money to jews for the damage they caused. But let's get back to Estonia what do we see there? The people that were fighting on Hitlers side in that war are considered to be heroes or smth, even though the toughest and the most awful crimes were not commited by German officers, but by the collaborators that tried to show their worthiness for Hitlers empire. They have their parades and so on.

And remember this happens in a country that is a member of the European Union. Well lets be honest to each other and say that facism was ok just because Stalin was a rough terrorist.

There are monuments to Russian soldiers in Germany and i don't think that it is even remotely imaginable that German authorities will demolish them.

The monument to the russian SOLDIERS in Estonia i

Ivan Deryagin, Moscow, Russia

The monument did not bother Estonians until more and more Russians started going there, not to pay respect to the dead but to yell anti-Estonian comments, raise their red flags and sing the Soviet Union anthem. Estonia is an independent country and we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour. The monument will be moved to the military cemetary where hopefully only people who want to commemorate their dead will go. Estonians need to show their independence and pride now or they never will. We have nothing against Russians who repect our country, language and customs and the Russian minority has never been discriminated. It is up to every individual if they want to learn Estonian and integrate. If they respect us, we will respect them!

Helen, Oxford, UK

We are talking about graves here not about Russian imperialism.

If French decide to dig American or Canadian military burial places in Normandy what would you say? Would you say that Americans and Canadians are not imperialists and don't have authoritarian political tradition thus it's inadmissible to dig these graves?

What would you say if Russians start to dig Nazi Germany military burial places in Russia? Would you say that Russians have no respect for dead?

Stop mixing different subjects.

Anton, Moscow, Russia

but is it normal, that russian school teachers go on the streets and take thair young students with them to protestion, i am young and i know how well one young person follows to even this thing that she or he doesn't really know about. Like everyone knows russians are more temperament than estonians, but do braking shopwindows and stealing alcohol help them somehow, i don't think so...its shows only their violence.
Police have a lot of work to do.

gertu, pärnu,

Considering that the Russian Government - not ordinary russians - committed just as many atrocities as the Nazis - mostly killing their own people under Stalin why are they so outraged by the removal of a reminder of occupation. They did not free Europe they occupied it. I am the son of a sailor who did the Murmansk Run and who told me he could never figure out that Russia was on our side as Stalin was just as bad as Hitler.

Fred, Dubai, Dubai

It's easy to understand the majority of Estionians wishing to remove the statue of the Russian Soldier. Whilst not taking anything away from the Russian efforts in WW II in liberating the Baltic states, regrettably they forgot to leave for a further 50 years.
Perhaps if they had left at the end of hostilities the Estonian people would have had more respect for the memories of the fallen. As it stands, the statue represented 50 years of brutal supression.
To put it bluntly President Putin needs to be told to butt out.

Philip Parker, Sydney, NSW Australaia

The same opinion, Igor! Stop rewriting history! We won this war and we will not allow Estonia to treat our ded soldiers this way.

Dmitry, Moscow, Russia

Russia is supposed to be a European country, sharing European values. It is a member of the Council of Europe and, for the EU, a 'strategic partner'. Still, it behaves like a bully, blackmailing and threatening its neighbours. I sincerely hope that the EU will react to this rant and rave from Moscow by at least uttering a few stern words in defence of Estonia.

Esa Leskinen, Hämeenlinna , Finland

The USSR fought for Estonia's freedom? It is debatable who was the most murderous autocrat - Hitler or Stalin. The only thing that is not debatable is that the Soviets invaded first.

Frederick S., Seattle, USA

It's amazing that the Estonians followed the Bolsheviks antics. The latter demolished statues of Alexander the Third, in St.Peterburg, and of General Skobelev, in Moscow, to name a few. Not sure about the "neo-nazi" label, but "provincial" most certainly applies to Estonian authorities.

Felix, Mountain View, USA/CA

Igor


FIRSTLY - the memorial will be RELOCATED to a military cemetery eventually (obviously hte sooner, the better), and NOT DEMOLISHED. It is being currently kept at an undisclosed location. The reason being that since the said memorial attracts ethnic Russian and Estonian extremists it would be safer to not have it in the city centre.

True - the Red Army soldiers liberated East Europe - but they also stayed for 47 years as occupiers. So what if NAzis were even worse. This cannot exonerate the crimes commited by the Soviet regime. There lies the controversy - to Estonians the soldier represents the Soviet hardships whereas Russians obviously see it as honouring their war dead. And these views need not be necessarily mutually exclusive.

Richard, Tallinn, Estonia

Richard, Tallinn, Estonia

I see both sides of it, to some extent, but the Soviet occupation was only a bit better than the Nazi era from the standpoint of Estonia and other satellite nations. It certainly lasted much longer. Igor Stumus says that Russia made free all of Europe...I think Europe would dispute that point quite strongly. Remember Hungary? Czechoslovakia & Poland? Lately Russia seems to be going in a very disappointing direction - away from democracy and freedom and returning to it's tradition of totalitarianism.

John, Tucson, USA

Outrageously unprofessional of Eastonian polititians!

Alex, London,

Amazingly, Russians forget to notice how themselfs treat their own monuments to fallen "heroes".
Not long ago, in Jinki, next to Moscow, not only they removed a monument of fallen pilots to give place to a shopping center, asin the process, even lost some of the remains....

Alex, Tallinn, Estonia

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