TALLINN - Relative calm has returned to Estonia in the wake of devastating riots that marked the worst outbreak of violence the country has seen since its 1991 independence. Two nights of rampage in the capital, along with smaller disturbances in Johvi and Narva, left one man dead, over 150 injured and caused millions of kroons worth of property damage.
The sirens and helicopter noise that made downtown Tallinn sound like a battle zone on the nights of April 26 and 27 are finally gone, but at press time, the situation is still far from normal. Windows are boarded up, police are out in force, and nerves are frayed.
Protest actions also continue. On April 30 and May 1, traffic in downtown Tallinn was deliberately blocked by drivers moving at a slow speed, honking horns and signaling erratically, in an action reportedly organized via forwarded e-mail and SMS. Traffic officers have been issuing fines.
Police have announced a ban on public gatherings in Harju county effective through May 11. The nation-wide ban on alcohol sales in shops, introduced immediately after the riots, has now been extended to May 10.
The Bronze Soldier monument, whose planned move sparked the protests and subsequent unrest, now stands in its new place in the Siselinna cemetery at the outskirts of Tallinn. In what appeared to be a hasty effort to reassure the world where Estonia stands on the issues of fascism and honoring war dead, Estonian Defense Minister Jaak Aaviksoo announced on April 29 that the monument would be unveiled on May 8 as part of a solemn ceremony to commemorate the defeat of fascism at the end of World War II.
Representatives from countries that made up the anti-Nazi coalition have been invited to attend the ceremony, and Estonian politicians and war veterans will also be present, the minister said.
The unveiling comes in time for May 9, the day Soviet Army veterans traditionally gathered at the Bronze Soldier monument when it was located at Tonismagi hill, in central Tallinn. With the ban on public gatherings in force, it is unclear how veterans will be able to mark the day.
Fears are that the emotion surrounding May 9 will bring further outbreaks of violence.
"We're not expecting any trouble but we have to be ready," said Harrys Puusepp, press spokesman for Estonia's Northern Police Prefecture. "We are ready to ensure public order, and we hoping that people behave according to the law, stay calm and don't gather in large groups, because they will be making the police work much harder that way."
Along with the broken shop windows, the riots shattered trust between Russian-speaking minorities and the Estonian community.
The opposition Center Party, which has been a vocal critic of the government's actions related to the Bronze Soldier, has announced a "Friday Peace Forum" in an attempt to bring down tensions.
"We need to come off from the streets and give people an opportunity to discuss. This is a forum that gives a peaceful floor for all the people and organizations who feel that they have something to say," Mailis Reps, vice-head of the Center Party, told The Baltic Times. He said that over 100 organizations have so far expressed an interest.
The police's response has also come under the microscope following the riots, with many asking why they stayed clear of the Parnu road area where the worst of the destruction was taking place.
"At the same time there was looting on the Parnu road, there were big conflicts, about 200 - 300 people throwing stones at police on Endla and Tatari street," explained Puusepp. He added that the tactic was to try to localize the area, so the crowds couldn't work their way out and continue the rampage in other parts of town.
Some witnesses complained of heavy-handed tactics used by police to disperse crowds. Most criticism however was centered on how detainees were treated.
"What happened on the streets during the riots is in accordance to law. However, we have got numerous complaints about the treatment of the arrested people. These complaints are all under the investigation," said Reps. Russian media reported that detainees were left in handcuffs for long periods of time and beaten. Cell phone recordings allegedly showed abuse of those in custody. However, Estonian Legal Chancellor Allar Joks said that during his inspection of the people held in custody they had made no complaints to him concerning the violation of human rights.
"The police's official response and the true response is that the people that were detained weren't mistreated. Some of the Russian media claim they were beaten. That is all false and that is practically propaganda," said police spokesman Puusepp.
The International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights has called on Estonian authorities to investigate the matter.
