Ambassador snubs reburial ceremony

  • 2007-07-02
  • From wire reports

TALLINN - Russian Ambassador to Estonia, Nikolai Uspensky, willnot attend the reburial of the Soviet soldiers at the heart of theBronze Soldier controversy.

A spokesman for the Russian embassy confirmed Monday that adecision not to attend the ceremony on Tuesday, July 3 had alreadybeen made, but refused to confirm the exact reason for the move,adding that this would be made clear subsequently.

However, Uspensky will take part in a memorial service conductedby Metropolitan Kornily, head of the Estonian Orthodox Churchof the Moscow Patriarchate.

Representatives of an association of Soviet WWII veterans willalso take part in the orthodox ceremony.

The official ceremony organized by the Estonian authoritiesis due to start at 11 am, and will be attended by Defense MinisterJaak Aaviksoo, along with other government representatives.

During the one hour ceremony, overseen by both Lutheran andOrthodox priests, coffins containing the remains of the fallensoldiers will be re-interred.