Estonian leaders lay flowers at disputed statue following riot

Estonian leaders laid flowers at the site of a disputed Soviet-era statue Tuesday, nearly two weeks after its relocation triggered strong protests from Russian-speaking Estonians in the capital.

The bronze statute, dedicated to former Soviet soldiers killed in World War II, was removed under the Estonian government's order from Tallinn's Tynismyagi square to a military cemetery in the southern part of the capital in late April.

The removal of the statue, viewed by some Estonians as a symbol of Soviet repression, triggered violent protests from ethnic Russians in the Baltic country. Protesters denounced it as an insult to war heroes.

During the two nights of rioting in Tallinn, one person was killed, 153 people were injured and some 800 people detained.

Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip, Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo and Minister of Population Urve Palo participated in the ceremony to commemorate the end of World War II in Europe.

None of the officials made a speech or announcement during the ceremony, which was also attended by dozens of foreign ambassadors and diplomatic representatives. Russian Ambassador Nikolai Uspensky refused to take part.

The relocation of the statue as well as the remains buried near the sculpture to what the Estonian government said was a more appropriate site also triggered fierce protests in Moscow.

Some Russian parliamentarians threatened to cut off diplomatic relations with Estonia. Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov vowed to block the sale of Estonian products at a May Day rally.

Estonia usually commemorates the Allies' victory in the European theater on May 8, V-E Day.

Both May 8 and May 9 were declared by the United Nations' General Assembly as a time of remembering the end of the Second World War in Europe.

Source: Xinhua