Estonia to remove WWII Soldier statue

Estonian lawmakers approved the statue`s removal, by a vote of 46 to 44, on the bill`s third and final reading. It calls for the two-meter bronze statue of the World War II soldier to be moved from the middle of a downtown public transportation hub to some remote location, within one month.

Many Estonians say the monument reminds them of the Soviet occupation, rather than liberation from the Nazis. But it`s the monument devoted to all the nations which had struggled in WWII for the peace in the world, to Estonians as well. At least to those of them who were fighting against Hitler, it`s devoted to Ukrainians, Belorussians, Georgians, Russians - thousands soldiers died on Estonia territory freeing it from fascist troops.
And we should not forget that there were many attempts in Baltic countries to make a monument in the glory of fascist soldiers. So, nobody actually doubts that it`s another try to pinch Russia alongside with constant revenging on Russians living in those countries.

Estonia`s president has refused to sign a controversial law that would pave the way for removing a Soviet war memorial. Toomas Hendrik Ilves said some sections of the law were unconstitutional.

Estonia`s Russian population, which makes up at least one-third of the tiny Baltic nation`s populace, is absolutely against this step.

Zarenko, an ethnic Russian living in Tallinn, says the plan to remove the WWII soldier is as egregious as those who deny the Holocaust. He says it is an ill-advised attempt to re-write history.

The speaker of Russia`s parliament, Boris Gryzlov, called it "a big mistake and an act of blasphemy which is unacceptable in today`s Europe".

Prime Minister Andrus Ansip said the government would be able to order the monument`s removal anyway, using a law on the protection of war graves which was passed in January.

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