Estonia's parliament approved January 10 a law allowing the reburial of the remains of Soviet soldiers who died fighting German invaders during the Second World War, but who are seen by many Estonians as former occupiers.
Another bill, which paves the way for the demolition of Soviet monuments, is being considered in the parliament.
"The adoption of this law was accompanied by unambiguous comments by high-ranking Estonian officials, which leave no doubt that the law, along with the currently discussed bill on the demolition of prohibited monuments, will be used as an instrument to erase the memory of the victory of humanism over fascism," the Federation Council said in its statement.
Addressing the parliaments of former Soviet republics, the European Parliament and the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and NATO, the upper chamber said the reburial of remains and the demolition of monuments is being planned in defiance of public opinion, decisions by municipal authorities and the wishes of relatives of the dead.
The controversial bill, which Estonian lawmakers passed in its first reading in November 2006, stemmed from a dispute over a Monument to a Soviet Liberator in central Tallinn, which authorities want removed.
Estonian authorities claimed that monuments dividing society must be removed, and the sentiment gained new momentum following clashes in front of the "Bronze Soldier" monument last year between Estonian nationalists and Russians living in the country.
But the Federation Council views Estonia's plans for Soviet memorials as a disgraceful historical landmark, and as a move toward defaming the common historical past of the two nations and legalizing neo-fascism in Europe.
The Russian leadership has repeatedly called the European Union's attention to attempts by Estonia, which declared its independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s and joined NATO and the EU in 2004, to glorify Nazi Germany, including with parades by former Nazi SS fighters.
The Federation Council urged parliaments, international parliamentary organizations and public organizations to denounce the attempts to resurrect vengeful forces and legalize fascism in Europe, and to prevent the memory of anti-Nazi coalition warriors from being desecrated.
The chamber called on Estonian authorities, political and public organizations and people to refrain from provocative actions against memorials built in Estonia in 1945-1991.
Moscow has also harshly criticized Estonia's discriminatory policies with respect to ethnic Russians who moved to the republic following its annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940, and their descendents.
Many members of Estonia's Russian community are denied citizenship and employment rights, and cannot receive an education in their native language.
The human rights group Amnesty International has condemned the situation in the Baltic country, and called on its leadership to respect the rights of ethnic Russians.
