Already in spring, former SS soldiers can officially be recognized as “liberator soldiers” in Estonia
This project is planned to be held in the spring through the Rigikogu (Parliament) Mart Laar, the former Prime Minister of Estonia, and now the head of the Ministry of Defense. On this Tuesday message appeared on the portal "Delphi".
Advisor to the Minister of Defense Rauno Veri made some comments on the issuance of the bill. In particular, he said that the project is already being prepared, and its first public review and discussion in parliament could be held in the spring. According to him, the idea was developed, which was put forward in 2005-2006 by parties that did not form a coalition at that time, one of which was the Union of the Fatherland, the second was Res Publica.
However, at that time, the Ministry of Justice considered that the adoption of such a bill would have a negative impact on the state of Estonian society, causing disagreement between those who were on different sides during the war. Last year, representatives of nationalist parties tried to “push” this decision, but again failed.
However, according to the portal, now the adoption of a new bill has become more obvious, since it is spelled out in the coalition agreement. True, the clause of the treaty itself sounds somewhat vague, calling for the support of those who fought for the recognition of Estonia as an independent parliament.
There are explanations for the draft law, which state that de facto those who fought against the Soviet Union fought for the independence of Estonia, therefore they can be called fighters for Estonian freedom.
At the moment, the number of freedom fighters unofficially include veterans who served in the Estonian SS 20 Division and other Wehrmacht fighters. Meetings of SS veterans are held annually in Estonia, at which the issue of granting them the official status of “liberators” of Estonia is raised.
It should be recalled that Russia has repeatedly received accusations against Estonia related to its complicity with fascism. Including due to the fact that annual meetings of SS veterans are held on the territory of this country, the question was also raised about the military-sports games “Erna's Hike”.
Statements made by the Foreign Ministry of Russia stated that indignation was repeatedly expressed to the Estonian side over the fact of holding a rally of former soldiers from the 20 Estonian division known as the Waffen SS in the town of Sinimäe located in the north-east of the country. However, numerous protests from the international community have come to nothing. Local authorities still allow meetings for those convicted by the Nürnberg International Military Tribunal for many murders and atrocities in the occupied territories.
Laar was widely known for his warlike nationalist views. In particular, in July he warned of his readiness to stop a possible Russian attack from the east with the help of partisan forces and reservists. At the same time, Laar promised to knock out at least fifty enemy tanksusing the forces of one Estonian defense.
In August, Mart Laar's private correspondence, which was conducted by him after the attack on the building of the Ministry of Defense, became public knowledge. In it, he said that all the enemies of Estonia will be shot.
Recall that 11 August in the capital of Estonia was carried out an act of terrorism. One of the members of the United Left Party of Estonia, Karen Drambyan, broke into the building of the Ministry of Defense and began to indiscriminately shoot. After the assault of the building was started by special forces, the terrorist shot himself dead.
In his comments later, Laar suggested that Drambyan fell under the influence of powerful propaganda carried out by Russia against the Baltic state. It is worth noting that this incident occurred two weeks after the double terrorist attack on the territory of Norway by the representative of right-wing extremists Anders Breivik.
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