Estonia's ethnic Russians mark Victory Day peacefully

Ethnic Russians marked the Second World War victory over the Nazis in peaceful celebrations today, nearly two weeks after Estonia was rocked by violent protests when the government moved a Red Army monument from central Tallinn.

Fearing unrest, police blocked off the square from which the Bronze Soldier statue was removed on April 27, sparking the worst riots the Baltic country had seen since breaking away from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Despite a temporary ban on public gatherings imposed after the clashes, a few hundred people showed up at the square today, but no incidents were reported.

Hundreds of people also gathered to lay flowers at the statue’s new location, a military cemetery outside the city centre.

The Bronze Soldier commemorates Red Army troops killed fighting the Nazis, but many Estonians consider it a bitter reminder of five decades of Soviet occupation.

Russia’s ambassador to Estonia laid a wreath at the statue, while reiterating Moscow’s objections to the relocation of the monument and a nearby war grave containing 12 Red Army soldiers.

“If we are to speak bluntly they (Estonia) have desecrated the graves,” Ambassador Nikolai Uspensky said. “Of course we look upon this negatively, and it creates the lowest of feelings.”

The dispute over the monument soured already strained relations between Estonia and Russia.

Moscow routinely accuses the Baltic state of discrimination against its Russian-speaking minority, who make up about one-third of the population.

Ethnic Russians and Estonian war veterans who served in the Soviet forces celebrate the Red Army’s victory over the Nazis, but the majority of Estonians do not.

Estonia will officially inaugurate the Bronze Soldier at its new location at the end of June.

The Defence Ministry aims to identify the 12 soldiers unearthed at the war grave and rebury them at the military cemetery.