REVISED: ESTONIA: FUROR OVER BRONZE SOLDIER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TALLINN 000079

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL RS EN
SUBJECT: REVISED: ESTONIA: FUROR OVER BRONZE SOLDIER
DEBATE

REF: (A) 06 TALLINN 533


1. Summary: On January 10, the parliament approved a
bill giving the government legal authority to relocate
the graves of Soviet soldiers and the adjacent QBronze
SoldierQ statue from their current location in central
Tallinn. While Prime Minister Andrus Ansip has stated
that excavation of the graves could begin in May, the
decision will ultimately fall to the new government
that will be formed after parliamentary elections in
March. In addition, any decision to move the graves
and the monument will likely face legal challenges
that could drag on for some time. End Summary.

Background
--------------


2. (SBU) As previously reported (Ref A),ethnic and
political tensions over the QBronze SoldierQ, the
Soviet-era monument dedicated to the war dead of WWII,
initially reignited in May 2006. On the anniversary
of the QEnd of the Great Patriotic War DayQ, counter-
demonstrations resulted in scuffles between ethnic
Russians and Estonians near the monument.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Interior temporarily
cordoned off the park in which the monument is located
and banned demonstrations near the site. The media
coverage of these events was extensive, in part due to
the highly prominent and visible location the Bronze
Soldier in central Tallinn and the fact that the
police were filmed removing an Estonian flag brought
to the scene by protesters. The police later stated
they had removed the flag to ensure its safety, but
its removal was seen as an insult by more
nationalistically-inclined Estonians.


3. (U) Political leaders immediately began to debate
the necessity of moving the Bronze Soldier to a less
visible location outside of the city Q giving the
justification that it would lessen the ability of
radical groups on both sides to disturb the public.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip voiced his support for
moving the monument, but acknowledged that in the
absence of national legislation regulating the
protection of war graves, the GOE lacked authority to
take any action. The Tallinn city government Q which
is dominated by the Center Party, an opponent of
removing the monument -- convened a series of
roundtable discussions that included Russian NGOs and
local leaders, but could not reach a consensus.

Where There is a Bill, There is a Way
--------------


4. (U) Members of the three-party ruling coalition
split over the issue: Center and PeoplesQ Union
opposed moving the Bronze Soldier while the Reform
Party strongly supported the idea. In November, Vaino
Lind, a Reform MP and the Chair of the Legal Affairs
Committee, submitted the QWar Graves Protection Bill
(WGP) to the Parliament for consideration. The
parliament approved this legislation, jointly
sponsored by the Reform Party, Social Democratic
Party, Res Publica, and Pro Patria, on January 10,
giving the GOE the legal authority to move war graves,
markers, and monuments that are located in
QunsuitableQ areas. According to the law, the
Ministry of Defense will establish an independent
committee (made up of representatives from the
Estonian Association for the Maintenance of War Graves
and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense,
Interior, Justice, and Culture) to determine a list of
war graves designated for removal and reburial at an
alternate location. The Commission has one year to
make its determination. Once finished, the committee
submits its findings to the Ministry of Defense for
implementation. Opponents of the bill have criticized
it for being inflammatory. Supporters, however,
emphasize that it is in full compliance with the
Geneva Convention, and includes provisions for the
proper reburial of any disturbed remains.


5. (U) Prime Minister Ansip has publicly expressed his
desire for the excavation process to begin in May.
However, it is unlikely the GOE will take any action
until March parliamentary elections determine the
shape of the next government. In addition, any GOE
effort to move the monument itself may face delays
from legal challenges. Elina Elkind, an Advisor at
the Ministry of Justice, told us that there is some
ambiguity in the language of the law which opponents

TALLINN 00000079 002 OF 002


could use to challenge the GOEQs right to move the
Bronze Soldier.


7. (U) Another bill tangentially related to the WGP,
the QDisallowed Construction Removal BillQ (DCR),has
stalled in the Riigikogu. The DCR would authorize the
GOE to prohibit the construction of and allow the
removal of any monument or structure that glorifies
the occupation of Estonia and/or incites hatred or
disturbs public order. The DCR, which was also
initially submitted in November, has been through only
one of three readings in the parliament. The same
four parties sponsored the bill, but gave priority to
passage of the WGP. Raini Lind, the Director of the
parliamentQs Legal Affairs Committee Secretariat, felt
that in her opinion the DCR will likely die in
committee before the parliamentQs last on February
22nd.

Is it History or Politics?
--------------


8. (U) Comment: From the mid-90s on, the Estonian
government has generally learned to turn the other
cheek in the face of provocative statements and
actions related to such emotionally-laden issues as
treatment of the Russian minority and the Bronze
Soldier. Why, after 15 years, last MayQs events
caused the Estonian political leadership to bring back
this issue front and center is not completely clear to
us, although the desire to use this issue for
political benefit in the run-up to next monthQs
elections was clearly one important factor. With
those elections now at hand, we believe that what
happens next will largely depend on the shape of the
next governing coalition.


GOLDSTEIN