Parade to mark 105th anniversary of Republic of Estonia to take place in Tallinn

  • 2023-02-15
  • BNS/TBT Staff

TALLINN - The parade to mark the 105th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia will take place on Tallinn's Freedom Square at noon on Feb. 24, while the general rehearsal will take place at 9 p.m. on Feb. 23.

The units will line up on Freedom Square at 11 a.m. on Feb. 24. The parade will be led by commander of the defense forces, Gen. Martin Herem, and inspected by President Alar Karis.

Over 900 participants and 25 units of equipment will participate in the parade. Altogether 35 flags, four companies, 14 platoons and two orchestras will take part. The British unit Military Pipes & Drums will also be represented at the event.

The parade will feature the national flag team, the flag team of the defense forces, the flag teams of all armed services together with units, the flag team of the Special Operations Forces together with the unit, the Estonian National Defense College, the Guard Battalion of the Military Police, Kuperjanov Infantry Battalion, Headquarters and Signal Battalion of the Estonian Division, the 1st Infantry Brigade, the 2nd Infantry Brigade, the Kaitseliit (Defense League) volunteer corps, the women's voluntary defense organization Naiskodukaitse, the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and the Prison Service. Flag teams of the Baltic Defense College, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE) and the NATO Force Integration Unit (NFIU) in Estonia will also take part. Reservists' units from the 22nd and 23rd infantry battalions of the 2nd Infantry Brigade will likewise participate.

Of allies, the flag teams of Germany, Denmark and France will be represented as well as the flag teams and units of the United Kingdom and the United States. The British, French, Danish and US units part of the NATO battle group in Estonia will also take part with their battle equipment.

Due to a planned flyover by Estonian and allied aircraft if the weather permits, the flying of any kind of drones or other flying devices in the parade area or its immediate proximity is strictly prohibited.

After the parade march, those interested will be able to inspect the equipment of the defense forces and allies. It will be possible to see the Estonian defense forces' CV9035EE fighting vehicle, the Sisu XA-188 and XA-180 armored personnel carriers, the US, British, Danish and French equipment, the Mistral anti-aircraft missile complex and the 23mm anti-aircraft gun, the Javelin anti-tank missile system, a medical armored vehicle, the K9 tracked self-propelled howitzer and the MB Actros 4150K tow truck.

In connection with the preparation and conduct of the parade of the defense forces, on the basis of the order of the Tallinn city government, vehicle traffic will be closed on Feb. 23 and 24 and parking will be restricted on Freedom Square and the surrounding streets. Preparations for the parade will take place from 7 a.m. on Feb. 23 to 11 a.m. on Feb. 24. Cleaning will take place from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Traffic restrictions will be in force during preparations and conduct of the parade on Freedom Square, Toompea Street, Harju Street, Kaarli Avenue, Mere Avenue, Parnu Road, Falgi Road, Kanuti Street, Inseneri Street, Vana Turu Street, Georg Ots Street, Suur-Karja Street, Roosikrantsi Street, Tonismae Street, Estonia Avenue and Komandadi Road.