Extract from European Court of Human Rights decision (Penart v. Estonia)
The Court notes, first, that Estonia lost its independence as a result of the Treaty of Non-Aggression between Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (also known as Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact), concluded on 23 August 1939, and the secret additional protocols to it. Following an ultimatum to set up Soviet military bases in Estonia in 1939, a large-scale entry of the Soviet army into Estonia took place in June 1940. The lawful
government of the country was overthrown and Soviet rule was imposed by force. The totalitarian communist regime of the Soviet Union conducted large-scale and systematic actions against the Estonian population, including, for example, the deportation of about 10,000 persons on 14 June 1941 and of more than 20,000 on 25 March 1949. After the Second World War, tens of thousands of persons went into hiding in the forests to avoid repression by the Soviet authorities; part of those in hiding actively resisted the occupation regime.
According to the data of the security organs, about 1,500 persons were killed and almost 10,000 arrested in the course of the resistance movement of 1944-1953.
Interrupted by the German occupation in 1941-1944, Estonia remained occupied by the Soviet Union until its restoration of independence in 1991.
DEMONSTRATION IN SUPPORT OF ESTONIA ON MAY 8 IN VILNIUS, RIGA, TALLINN
On May 8 at 11:45 am in Vilnius’ Cathedral Square, a massive demonstration will take place in support of Estonia, in response to recent riots in Tallinn and attacks against Estonian diplomats in Moscow by pro-Kremlin youths. The organizers of the demonstration have called on Lithuanian citizens and their Latvian and Estonian counterparts to join this show of Baltic solidarity under the slogan of “We are together! Free and independent!”
Justinas Pagirys of the Vilnius University Institute of International Relations and Political Science students’ corporation RePublica, one of the organizers of the May 8 event, said the purpose of the demonstration is to not only support Estonia, but to remind “old Europe” that silence during times of crisis has often ended in tragedy for the Baltic States.
“Every civic-minded citizen, who is concerned about recent incidents in Estonia, as well as other organizations, politicians and journalists, are invited to join this display of solidarity. Those wishing to participate are encouraged to e-mail lt.lv.est@gmail.com”, states an announcement being circulated by the organizers. Many civic organizations have expressed their support and commitment to participate in the event.
“If we succeed in gathering not only Lithuanians, but Latvians and Estonians as well, we will join hands simultaneously at 12:05 in Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn and on the borders of these states, to express the will and the unity of the Baltic States”, continues the RePublica announcement. “This will be reminiscent of the Baltic Way*, when Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians declared that the Baltic States would stand together during their greatest times of challenge”.
As long as gatherings are restricted in Tallinn, people there are encouraged to wave Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian flags from the windows of their homes, offices and cars in a display of their moral support for the event.
RePublica states that the riots in Tallinn and assaults on Estonian diplomats in Moscow, both verbal and physical, demonstrate that threats to Baltic security have assumed a different face.
The riots in Tallinn were a serious warning and lesson for the three Baltic States, said J. Pagirys. “Aggressive statements by Russian government officials and slanted Russian media reports in support of inadmissible acts of violence and vandalism by marauding youths were not only shocking, but totally unacceptable.”
TALLINN, May 7, 2007 (AFP) - Russia has declined an invitation fromEstonia to attend ceremonies to mark the end of World War II,including one in a military cemetery where a monument to Soviet soldiers was relocated
last week, Russian diplomats said Monday.
"The Russian embassy has received an official invitation from the Estonian foreign ministry to attend commemorative events on May 8, but we will stick to our original programme," Mazim Kozlov, spokesman for the Russian embassy in Tallinn, told AFP.
"We will not attend the laying of flowers at the military cemetery on May 8, because for Russia, Victory Day is on May 9," he said.
"On May 9, the Russian ambassador and other diplomats will lay flowers at the military cemetery in Tallinn and at several other locations in Estonia where there are Soviet war graves and monuments," Kozlov said.
The Estonian authorities removed a Soviet war monument called the Bronze Soldier from a central city square in Tallinn at the end of last month. The statue was re-installed a few days later in a military cemetery in a quiet neighbourhood of the Estonian capital.
Russians see the monument as a sacred memorial to the millions of Red Army soldiers who died fighting Nazism in World War II.
The removal of the statue sparked rioting in Tallinn, where half the population of 400,000 is ethnic Russian, and plunged relations with Moscow to their lowest point since this Baltic state won independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Estonia will on Tuesday mark the end of World War II with ceremonies at the Bronze Soldier monument, at a memorial to Jews killed in the Holocaust, and at a war memorial in Tallinn to Soviet and Estonian soldiers.
Western Europe, including Estonia, marks the end of World War II on May8, while Russia and many members of the large Russian community in Estoniamark it the next day.
For Estonia and the other two Baltic states, Latvia and Lithuania, May 9 marks the start of nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation which began at theend of World War II and ended in 1991, when the Soviet Union crumbled.
USA asevälisminister: Eesti on meie sõber ja liitlane5. mai 2007TALLINN, 5. mai, BNS - Ameerika Ühendriikide asevälisminister Nicholas Burns kinnitas reedel USA riigidepartemangus toimunud välisteenistuse päeva tseremoonial, et USA on Eesti sõber ja liitlane.
Burns ütles 1940. aastal Eestist Soome teel olles hukkunud diplomaatilise kulleri Henry W. Antheili mälestustseremoonial, et nagu Teise maailmasõja ajal, nii on ka käesoleval nädalal asutud vaba Eesti suveräänsust ründama.
Ta meenutas, et nagu on juba kinnitanud president George W. Bush, riigisekretär Condoleezza Rice ja kogu USA valitsus, on USA Eesti sõber ja liitlane.
Aseminister lisas, et USA austab Eesti õigust langetada oma otsuseid iseseivalt ja elada vaba suveräänse riigina, NATO liikmena, ning USA liitlasena.
Burns rõhutas, et on USA diplomaadina väga uhke selle üle, et president Franklin D. Roosevelt tegi 70 aastat tagasi ainuõige otsuse mitte tunnustada Balti riikide okupeerimist, ning et selle poliitika raames õnnestus Eesti välisesindusel USA-s oma tööd jätkata.
Aseminister nentis, et Eesti taasiseseisvumine ja Vene okupatsioonivägede lahkumasundimine on ühed märkimisväärsematest sündmustest tänapäeva ajaloos.
Reedel lisati riigidepartemangus asuvale välismaal hukkunud USA diplomaatide mälestustahvlile kolm nime, nende seas ka 1940. aastal Tallinna lähedal alla tulistatud lennukil Kaleva hukkunud kulleri nimi.
Antheil hukkus 14. juunil 1940, kui kaks NSV Liidu pommituslennukit tulistasid Keri saare lähedal alla Soome reisilennuki Kaleva. Lennuki pardal olnud üheksa inimest hukkusid.
USA saatkond Tallinnas teatas reedel, et saatkond on toetanud Antheili elu ja surma dokumenteerimist ning peagi valmib ka dokumentaalfilm "Kaleva lugu".
Mälestustahvlile kantakse ka eelmisel aastal kopteriõnnetuses hukkunud USAID-i Nepali esinduse asedirektor Margaret Alexanderi ning 1970. aastal Afganistanis mõrvatud välisteenistuse meditsiiniõe Doris G. Knittle'i nimi.
Kolme nime lisamine mälestustahvlile tõstis seni teadaolevalt ametikohustuste täitmisel hukkunud USA välisteenistuse töötajate arvu 225-le.
