SNAPSHOT: GROWING UP RUSSIAN IN ESTONIA

UNCLAS SECTION 02 OF 03 TALLINN 000405 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPT FOR EUR/NB MIGUEL RODRIGUES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV RU EN SUBJECT: SNAPSHOT: GROWING UP RUSSIAN IN ESTONIA *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** TALLINN 00000405 002 OF 003 Russians and Estonians. Stanislav Tserepanov, head of one of Estonia's tiny ethnic-Russian political parties, believes the riots made what was once 'historical' tension between Russians and Estonians a "new, current issue" for youth. While students we spoke to said they view themselves as Russian, they also noted they are not considered purely Russian in Russia. Instead, they are something new: "Russians living in Estonia,- a concept which is not fully accepted in either country. Russians' Place in Estonia ¶6. (SBU) Russian-speaking students and their teachers said they feel that Estonian society does not easily accept them. AmCham's Sotskaja believes Estonians are focused on preserving their nation and identity. Tserepanov echoed this sentiment noting he believes Estonians have become engulfed in a new wave of nationalism that excludes Russian-speakers. Developing a national pride that could unite Russians and Estonians would serve Estonia better, Tserepanov asserted. Some older members of the Russian community we spoke with said they feel that Estonians often do not separate "Russian" from "Soviet," though many of the Russians now living in Estonia also suffered under the Soviet regime. Younger students had a different view. Even though none of them remember Soviet times, they expressed nostalgia for its "easier and calmer" lifestyle. ¶7. (U) Language remains one of the most divisive issues. Students and other members of the ethnic Russian community complained that in Estonia "integration" has seemed more like "assimilation." While none of our young interlocutors complained about having to learn Estonian language and culture, they expressed frustration that Estonians don't reciprocate Russian-speakers' efforts. (Note: In February, Estonian President Ilves said in an interview to the BBC that he does not study Russian because it would be "recognizing 50 years of Soviet occupation." However, in November, Ilves visited schools, worksites and a church in ethnically-Russian Ida-Virumaa county and promised to return soon and address the public in the Russian language. End Note.) Many students worried about their ability to preserve their mother tongue and national identity. On this issue, however, students in Tallinn and Narva differed. Russian speakers in Tallinn insisted on the importance of preserving the Russian culture and community throughout Estonia. Students in the border city of Narva (98 percent ethnic Russian),expressed a belief that Estonia only needed to preserve Russian culture and language in areas where the majority of the population is Russian. ¶8. (U) Some of the students we spoke with complained that the GOE's program to increase the number of subjects taught in Estonian at Russian-language high schools will not help significantly. One asked, "How can a Russian learn physics in Estonian, if the subject is hard enough to understand in his first language?" While their feelings were sincere, this is a much different view from the majority opinion expressed in a recent major survey of Russian-speaking students (Ref A). Several students and one teacher we spoke with felt Estonian textbooks portray Russians negatively and cited this as the reason Russian students are hesitant to attend Estonian schools. Jevgeni Krishtafovitsh, chairman of the youth integration organization Open Republic, and Vjateslav Konovalov, of Narva College, said that the recent establishment of Russian-language instruction at the new St. Catherine's College at Tallinn University is not a positive step. The students would benefit more from being forced to speak Estonian, they said. (NOTE: St. Catherine's College instruction does lead to full instruction in Estonian. END NOTE.) ¶9. (U) The students we spoke with generally view the benefits of being 'stateless' as relatively equal to Estonian citizenship. Most viewed Russian citizenship as the least preferable option. However, they acknowledged that the Russian Federation's recent decision to allow visa-free travel for stateless Estonian residents will reduce the incentive to apply for Estonian citizenship (Estonian citizens must have a visa to travel to Russia). What the Future Holds ¶10. (U) While all of the students identified themselves *********************** * Missing Section 003 * ***********************