Estonia reacts to rights abuse charges

  • 2007-05-11
  • By TBT staff
Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip on May 10 rejected accusations by the human rights watchdog FIDH, according to which the containment of mass riots in Estonia at the end of last month involved rights abuses.

The international rights watchdog on May 9 expressed concern over what it described as rights violations in Estonia after the controversial relocation of the Bronze Soldier Soviet war memorial sparked riots by mainly Russian-speaking young people.

"The FIDH (International Federation for Human Rights) and the Latvian Committee for Human Rights express their profound concern on human rights violations committed by police and protesters during the riots in Estonia in which one person died and 150 were injured," the FIDH said in a statement carried by AFP news agency.

The FIDH said the protesters had "committed acts of vandalism," but underlined that the police used "excessive force," and meted out "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment."

Speaking at the government press conference, Ansip said no human rights violations had been committed in Estonia during the suppression of the disorder.

"Those who feel that they have been mistreated ought to turn to a court of law. If rights have been violated, the judiciary bodies will make a competent evaluation," Ansip said.

Meanwhile four criminal investigations have been launched on the basis of complaints concerning actions by the police in relation to the riots.

"On their basis four criminal investigations have been opened based on the article of the penal code dealing with abuse of authority," Kristiina Herodes, spokesperson for the chief prosecutor's office, told BNS.

She said police had the right to use force and special equipment to quell riots.

In all 21 complaints have been filed with the prosecutor's office and the police regarding the actions of law enforcement officers on April 26 - 28.

"Estonia is a country of rule of law, therefore the prosecutor's office is carefully checking all complaints as regards possible use of excessive force by the police. Complaints to this effect can also be addressed to the legal chancellor," she said.

In cases where potential elements of a criminal offense are found a criminal procedure is launched to find out further details, the spokesperson added

Russia continues to keep the issue at the forefront of its diplomatic offensive against Estonia.

The speaker of the State Duma lower house of the Russian parliament, Boris Gryzlov, reiterated charges on may 10 that Estonia's law enforcement services had overreacted while handling the protesters and described actions by these services as "brutal."

"Information available to us exposes the Estonian law enforcement services' brutal methods," Gryzlov was quoted by Interfax as telling reporters in Moscow.

A group of MPs dispatched to Tallinn by the Duma gathered photos, videos and photos taken with mobile phones, which "expose these brutal methods," and will publish them soon, he said, adding that priority will be given to facts confirming human rights abuses in Estonia.

The Russian delegation's work was obstructed in Estonia, but the deputies fulfilled their mission, Gryzlov said.

He claimed that the materials gathered were sufficient to talk about human rights abuses in Estonia in international parliamentary organizations, including at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Our deputies could speak in detail about human rights abuses in Estonia and demand emergency debates on the issue, Gryzlov said.

Police in Estonia have rejected all allegations of use of excessive force against the rioters.