Unofficial translation from Russian

Question: A monument was unveiled on November 23 in the Estonian city of Parnu which Estonian authorities say is a monument to "fighters for the independence of Estonia in World War II." At the same time it is no secret to anybody in Estonia that the monument is to the legionnaires of the Estonian Waffen SS division. How could the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia comment on this situation?

Commentary: Attempts under some pretext or other to perpetuate the memory of the nazis' accomplices are not a new thing to Estonia. Thus, last year at the initiative of a group of persons who had served in the Estonian Waffen SS division efforts were already made to erect such a monument in Parnu. Then the authors of the idea did not even think it necessary to camouflage their intentions, and bluntly suggested that the monument be in the form of a figure with a submachine gun in SS uniform. After a series of public protests both in Estonia and abroad the monument was dismantled.

Today the putting up of this monument is being presented as a tribute to the memory of "fighters for the restoration of the state independence of Estonia in World War II," although everybody is perfectly aware that the plans of the Hitler regime, which the Estonian SS legionnaires served, never included assistance to the restoration of Estonian statehood, liquidated as a result of the aggression of nazi Germany.

It is regrettable that current politicians, including those from the parties which form the government coalition, participate in such undertakings in Estonia. As to the SS and the structural subdivisions of this criminal organization, as well as the persons who served in them, history once and for all passed its judgment on them by the decisions of the Nuremberg tribunal.

November 25, 2003