Deportation case sent to court

  • 2008-09-26
  • In cooperation with BNS
TALLINN - The West circuit prosecutor'soffice in Estoniahas sent to court the criminal case of a former operative commissioner in the Soviet Union concerning his participation in the March1949 mass deportations.

The prosecutors accuse Vello Paltmann, 79, of genocide and assault against the civilian population.

Paltmann is accused of deporting four families -- a total of 11 people -- from the Emmaste and Kaina ruralmunicipalities in the island of Hiiumaa. According to theinvestigation materials, he led a team of operatives thatdetained the residents in their homes on March 25, 1949,convoyed them under armed guard to the port of Lehtma andhanded them over to other participants in the crime.