Estonian ForMin expresses protest to Russia over planned fireworks show

TALLINN - The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed its protest to the embassy of the Russian Federation in Estonia in relation to a fireworks show to be held in Moscow on the anniversary of the capture of Tallinn by Soviet forces in 1944.

The Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday summoned a representative of the Russian embassy and expressed protest in connection with the staging of a fireworks show in Moscow on Sept. 22, the day that Red Army units entered Tallinn in 1944, spokespeople for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu described the news about the planned fireworks show on the 75th anniversary of the reoccupation of Tallinn as a provocative step.

"The reoccupation of Tallinn did not bring freedom for Estonia, but a Soviet occupation lasting half a century. Uninterrupted legal continuity of the Republic of Estonia serves as basis to our statehood today and will also do so tomorrow," Reinsalu said.

The Estonian minister previously said on Tuesday that celebrating the reoccupation of Tallinn with fireworks as if it were a festive occasion is unacceptable, adding that the jubilee celebrations are all the more cynical considering that 2019 also marks the 80th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

Spokespeople for Russia's Western Military District have said that altogether 17 fireworks shows will be held in Moscow this year and the next to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Soviet Army's arrival to various capital cities in Eastern and Central Europe.