Estonian FM condemns Russian account of "Bronze Riots"

Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Paet on Wednesday condemned a statement of the Russian embassy in Estonia, which detailed its stance on the Bronze Soldier riots of 2007.

"This statement instigates new political emotions on the basis of lies and will not help improve Estonian-Russian relations," Paet said of the statement, which described the rioters as "peaceful protesters" who had been brutally suppressed by police.

Tuesday marked the fourth anniversary of the rioting and looting that broke out in downtown Tallinn against the decision of the Estonian government in 2007 to relocate a controversial Soviet WWII monument and the remains of the Red Army soldiers there.

"Digging out the remains of the soldiers not only violated international conventions but also the principle of morality and humanism," the statement said.

The Russian embassy also blamed the Estonian authorities for "a large-scale smear campaign against the liberators of the Estonian capital from Nazi occupiers," and demanded the continuation of the investigation into the fatal stabbing during the riots of a Russian citizen living in Estonia.

Source: Xinhua