Estonia`s foreign minister dismissed Russian accusations earlier Monday that it glorifies Nazism.

"Estonia, like the majority of countries, condemns Nazism," Urmas Paet said, adding Nazism was a criminal ideology and the notion should not used in modern politics, which Russia is doing.

Russia`s Foreign Ministry condemned a meeting of veterans of Estonia`s Waffen SS division in the Baltic state over the weekend, calling it an outrageous event and regretting that it received official backing.

"The open glorification of former Nazi fighters` actions in World War II by the Estonian government, voiced in a congratulatory speech to members of the Nazi coven by the defense minister, is especially outrageous," the ministry said.

But Paet said Russia should focus on internal problems like "growing chauvinism."
sections: Politics