Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that after 24 February, when Russia launched a full-scale war against Ukraine, the war monuments of the Soviet Union in Estonia’s public space are no longer a local issue. “No one wants to see our militant and hostile neighbour foment tensions in our home. According to our constitution, internal peace is the central value of the Estonian state, and the defence of internal and external peace is one of the primary tasks of the state. We will not afford Russia the opportunity to use the past to disturb the peace in Estonia,” she said. “Considering the speed of the increasing tensions and confusion around memorials in Narva, we must act quickly to ensure public order and internal security. This is why the government adopted the decision to remove the war monuments of the former foreign regime there to prevent them from mobilising more hostility in society and tearing open old wounds.” The common grave of the victims of the Second World War in Narva will get a neutral grave marker and it will remain a dignified site for commemorating the dead.”
The prime minister emphasised that we needed to concentrate on our common future. “Today’s decision helps to keep our focus on our most important tasks: ensuring Estonia’s security and helping all the people of Estonia weather the crises caused by the war in Ukraine.”
Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu noted that the Russian Federation and its special services wanted to use the memorials commemorating the criminal occupation regime to fuel tensions in Estonian society. “As Russia is waging a genocidal war against Ukraine and trying to break the foundations of Europe’s security architecture, we cannot afford internal divisions within our society. These monuments were erected here to glorify the reoccupation of Estonia and they have no place in our public space.”
Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets said the state must remove the monuments in the interests of public order. “Considering the current situation, ensuring public order is complicated for the authorities of the city of Narva, as is the technical side of removing monuments. It is a great and complex issue, and it is up to the state to resolve it – it would be irresponsible to let the local government shoulder this task. It is in the interests of public order and internal security to remove the monuments in question before a further increase in tensions around them,” Läänemets said.
“It is clear that many locals care about the removal of the monuments but we must find a site where we can commemorate the victims of the Second World War without conflicts and threat of provocations,” the minister added.
Earlier, the government decided in principle to remove the war monuments of the Soviet occupation regime from public space in Estonia by the end of this year. The specific timeframe and order of removal will depend on the readiness and logistical plans of local governments. War graves will be reburied in cooperation with local governments and in line with all the international commitments the Republic of Estonia has undertaken with regard to the protection of cultural monuments and grave sites.
