- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

U.S. House shows support for Estonia over memorial removal

Subscribe
U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Estonian government following recent violence over the removal of a Soviet-era war memorial and protests outside the Estonian embassy in Russia.
WASHINGTON, May 6 (RIA Novosti) - U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approved a resolution supporting the Estonian government following recent violence over the removal of a Soviet-era war memorial and protests outside the Estonian embassy in Russia.

The document, approved by all 412 members present for the vote, declared full support for Estonia as a sovereign state, NATO and OSCE member and condemned the recent violence and vandalism in Tallinn.

The House also stated that the harsh occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union was illegal and violated Estonian sovereignty and right to self-determination, but stressed that they honored the memory of those who gave their lives in the fight against Nazism, including Red Army soldiers.

The removal of the monument from central Tallinn April 27 sparked riots among the Russian speaking minority, during which one person died, dozens were injured and over 1,000 arrested.

Mass protests at the Estonian embassy in Moscow forced the consulate to close temporarily, with activists throwing stones at the Estonian ambassador's car and attempting to disrupt a press conference.

Estonian Web sites were attacked by hackers crippling governmental and commercial sites across the country. Estonian authorities said that cyber attacks had been traced to Russia.

And in recent developments six Russians were deported from Estonia Tuesday after staging protests in Tallinn.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала