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http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Sov.../1135226864902

Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
One fatal stabbing reported - city restricts sale of alcohol

Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
Soviet memorial in Tallinn moved after night of rioting
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A bronze statue of a Soviet soldier, which has been the focus of severe tension between ethnic groups in Estonia, was moved from its location in the centre of the capital Tallinn early Friday morning after a night of rioting. The issue has also soured relations between Estonia and Russia.
Police moved into the area on Thursday evening to break up a crowd of about 1,000 demonstrators who had gathered around the monument. When fleeing the police, some of the demonstrators vandalised local businesses and traffic signs and overturned cars.
One person was stabbed to death during the night's unrest. The injured included 44 rioters and 13 police officers. Three hundred people were arrested, many of whom were in possession of goods looted from stores in the centre of the city.
Both native-born Estonians and ethnic Russians were among those arrested.
The situation had calmed down by the morning. Police reinforcements had been called into Tallinn from other parts of the country.

The Estonian government decided at an emergency meeting in the early hours of Friday to move the monument away from its previous location. The location of the monument was not disclosed, but plans are to relocate it at a military cemetery away from the city centre.
There are plans to excavate the area to see if the remains of any Soviet soldiers can be found in the area. If they are, they would also be reburied at the military cemetery.

Many Estonians see the monument as a symbol of the hated Soviet occupation; Russia and for many ethnic Russians living in Estonia, feel that it symbolises victory against fascism in the Second World War.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was in Oslo on Thursday evening, sharply denounced what he called a "sacrilege" taking place in Tallinn, and warned that it could harm relations between Russia and the European Union.
The upper house of the Russian Parliament has passed a resolution calling for the breaking of diplomatic relations with Estonia. However, the resolution is not binding on President Vladimir Putin.

Finland has urged the sides in the dispute not to "overreact". Markus Lyra, Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs also told Helsingin Sanomat on Friday that the call from the Russian Parliament to cut off diplomatic ties with Estonia was a "clear overreaction, because the issue is one of Estonia's internal affairs".
Lyra would not give a precise assessment of how the European Union might react, saying that it is a matter for Germany, the holder of the EU Presidency.

City authorities in Tallinn announced restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages in the city as of Friday afternoon. The measure is to remain in force through Wednesday next week. Restaurants will be able to serve drinks, but stores will not be able to sell alcohol after 2 p.m.
The Finnish Embassy in Tallinn has urged Finnish tourists in the city to watch television news broadcasts in order to keep abreast of the situation. The Embassy notes that rioting might continue over the weekend, and into the First of May holiday.
Helsingin Sanomat would appreciate eyewitness accounts of the events in Tallinn. Messages can be sent to hs.online@sanoma.fi. Photographs and videos are also welcome.