The sturdy Russian inhabitants of Estonia are out of control. Street fighting has been going on for more than two days, stretching the already over-burdened police force.
00`03
The Russians in the country are seeing their national pride violated. The government is going to remove their war memorial.
00`18
The capital Tallinn is going through a spate of violence and destruction as never before.
00`22
OT A Russian in the street
They flog people with clubs and cudgels. So if they shall try to strike me, I shall hit back.
00`32
A youth died in the rioting last Friday. Estonia is deeply split. The Russian minority feels threatened.
00`43
OT A Russian passer by in the street
Why do the police beat up children? Because you are Russian. They think that Russians are the foes of Estonians.
00`59
Around a quarter of folk in Estonia are brawny Russians. They came here when the Baltic countries still formed part of the Soviet Union and were meant to contribute towards the Sovietisation of Estonia. And they stayed on even after Estonia achieved independence.
01`15
The state of Estonia has tried to integrate these Russians. This attempt at integration came to an abortive end last weekend.
01`24
This EU country is passing through a crucial phase. For the Russians, this war memorial represents the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. Apparently the Tallinn government wants to let it fade away into oblivion.
01`36
OT Russian in car
We are protesting here because no one has explained to us the reason behind the urgency to remove the statue. And so the situation cannot just calmly simmer down as you would expect.
01`52
This monument to fallen Soviet soldiers has been brought to the periphery of Tallinn. Nevertheless people still remember their battle heroes even without the bronze memorial.
02`08
The liberators, who expelled Hitlers troops, remained in the country until 1994. As far as Estonians were concerned, they too were occupiers. Therefore they have to leave. Estonia is independent. The Russian army is pulling out. Estonia has joined NATO and the European Union. The soldiers have taken away the tanks and cannons. Generally speaking, it is only the men who came with them who have remained here in the country.
02`35
As the Russians were pulling out, Juri Estam arrived in his native land for the first time. He is Estonian. His parents fled the Soviets in 1944 as they felt restricted. They migrated to the USA. Juri Estam was on the KGBs blacklist.
02`50
OT Juri Estam, who lived as an Estonian in exile
If we look at the past and see how claims of suffering and distress caused by Soviet rule in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, have been denied and repudiated. That suggests that you can attach little weight to their protestations of friendship. You have no idea of the extent of the wrong the Soviets have inflicted on us.
03`18
Juri Estam is glad that the heroes of the occupation are in a museum today. They did not bring the country any good and their time is now long past.
03`33
OT Juri Estam, former Estonian exile
It would be the most successful result of my efforts if young Russians no longer lived with and accepted the lies. If someone on the Russian side publicly and sincerely regretted what happened, no longer denied their past, and looked forward to a common future, I think the two camps could be brought together.
04`06
We are looking for youths in the Russian minority in the Tallinn suburbs. Here most live in very poor conditions.
04`17
The young Russian Hip-Hop dance company, DeLux, has experienced the rioting. They do not want to pick fights with Estonians over this memorial statue which they have nicknamed Aljosha. The young dancers want to integrate themselves into Estonian society. But they also understand their Russian compatriots. Feelings have been hurt here.
04`45
OT Igor Lider, dance troupe DeLux
Everyone knows that Russians are emotional. If Estonians hurt something that is sacred to us Russians, then we will not simply sit and watch. For example, if someone urinates over my mothers grave, then I will want to cut his throat. That is it, tit for tat.
OT Alexandr Zhemzhurov, dance ensemble DeLux
Maja, here next to me, is the only Estonian in our dance troupe. She herself has noticed how upsetting we find these incidents. She baked us a cake the day after the unrest. We liked that. It pleased us very much.
05`33
Estonian youths feel bitter about the rioting Russians. During the unrest they were involved in brawls with their Russian contemporaries for hours in their favourite taverns.
05`46 OT Punk
Integration that is nonsense. Politicians have urged us to integrate for ten seventeen years. It is drivel. We can see that now. I can well understand that the statue is in a way almost a Holy Grail for the Russians. I can see the Russian point. But I cannot see any excuse for this devastation. What really gets to me is, what does all this have to do with my local pub?
06`23
There is no more peace and calm in Estonia any more. A memorial has split the nation in two. Even among the younger generation, old Aljosha is still very current and topical. While the Russians accuse the Estonians of minimising the Nazi period, Estonians feel their national sovereignty threatened by their Russian neighbours.
06`36
OT Juri Estam
If Western Europe were to help the Russians re-invent themselves in new democratic ways, these misleading myths and legends might be replaced by something better and more positive.
06`50
Every ninth of May the Russians celebrate the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. In Tallinn the occasion is commemorated in front of this controversial memorial.
06`57
In front of the Estonian embassy in Moscow, Kremlin-supported youth organizations shout out their opinion of Estonians: Nazis Nazis. The issue is bound to lead to diplomatic conflict between Tallinn and Moscow.
7`00
O-Ton Sergej Lawrow, Russian Foreign Minister
We are appalled at the way in which these demonstrations have risen to hysteria. All the demonstrators actually wanted to do was protect a memorial of the liberation of the whole of Europe.
7`24
After all this commotion and international tension, Aljosha has found a new home in the war cemetery.
07`40
Young Russians look on warily to see whether this is genuine.
7`50 OTon
Man
You have to understand this we were abandoned back here, no money, work or, indeed, roof over our heads. Those were very hard times.
07`58
OTON Woman
Our uncle was killed during the war therefore the memorial is very relevant to us.
8`07 OTON Man
Our forefathers struggled for the freedom that we now enjoy. They fought against the fascists. This monument stands for that.
Aljosha has found its peace and folk now seem to have gradually reconciled themselves to its relocation.
Author: Patrick A. Hafner
Camera: C J Kask
Schnitt: Daniela Schwatczek
00`03
The Russians in the country are seeing their national pride violated. The government is going to remove their war memorial.
00`18
The capital Tallinn is going through a spate of violence and destruction as never before.
00`22
OT A Russian in the street
They flog people with clubs and cudgels. So if they shall try to strike me, I shall hit back.
00`32
A youth died in the rioting last Friday. Estonia is deeply split. The Russian minority feels threatened.
00`43
OT A Russian passer by in the street
Why do the police beat up children? Because you are Russian. They think that Russians are the foes of Estonians.
00`59
Around a quarter of folk in Estonia are brawny Russians. They came here when the Baltic countries still formed part of the Soviet Union and were meant to contribute towards the Sovietisation of Estonia. And they stayed on even after Estonia achieved independence.
01`15
The state of Estonia has tried to integrate these Russians. This attempt at integration came to an abortive end last weekend.
01`24
This EU country is passing through a crucial phase. For the Russians, this war memorial represents the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. Apparently the Tallinn government wants to let it fade away into oblivion.
01`36
OT Russian in car
We are protesting here because no one has explained to us the reason behind the urgency to remove the statue. And so the situation cannot just calmly simmer down as you would expect.
01`52
This monument to fallen Soviet soldiers has been brought to the periphery of Tallinn. Nevertheless people still remember their battle heroes even without the bronze memorial.
02`08
The liberators, who expelled Hitlers troops, remained in the country until 1994. As far as Estonians were concerned, they too were occupiers. Therefore they have to leave. Estonia is independent. The Russian army is pulling out. Estonia has joined NATO and the European Union. The soldiers have taken away the tanks and cannons. Generally speaking, it is only the men who came with them who have remained here in the country.
02`35
As the Russians were pulling out, Juri Estam arrived in his native land for the first time. He is Estonian. His parents fled the Soviets in 1944 as they felt restricted. They migrated to the USA. Juri Estam was on the KGBs blacklist.
02`50
OT Juri Estam, who lived as an Estonian in exile
If we look at the past and see how claims of suffering and distress caused by Soviet rule in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, have been denied and repudiated. That suggests that you can attach little weight to their protestations of friendship. You have no idea of the extent of the wrong the Soviets have inflicted on us.
03`18
Juri Estam is glad that the heroes of the occupation are in a museum today. They did not bring the country any good and their time is now long past.
03`33
OT Juri Estam, former Estonian exile
It would be the most successful result of my efforts if young Russians no longer lived with and accepted the lies. If someone on the Russian side publicly and sincerely regretted what happened, no longer denied their past, and looked forward to a common future, I think the two camps could be brought together.
04`06
We are looking for youths in the Russian minority in the Tallinn suburbs. Here most live in very poor conditions.
04`17
The young Russian Hip-Hop dance company, DeLux, has experienced the rioting. They do not want to pick fights with Estonians over this memorial statue which they have nicknamed Aljosha. The young dancers want to integrate themselves into Estonian society. But they also understand their Russian compatriots. Feelings have been hurt here.
04`45
OT Igor Lider, dance troupe DeLux
Everyone knows that Russians are emotional. If Estonians hurt something that is sacred to us Russians, then we will not simply sit and watch. For example, if someone urinates over my mothers grave, then I will want to cut his throat. That is it, tit for tat.
OT Alexandr Zhemzhurov, dance ensemble DeLux
Maja, here next to me, is the only Estonian in our dance troupe. She herself has noticed how upsetting we find these incidents. She baked us a cake the day after the unrest. We liked that. It pleased us very much.
05`33
Estonian youths feel bitter about the rioting Russians. During the unrest they were involved in brawls with their Russian contemporaries for hours in their favourite taverns.
05`46 OT Punk
Integration that is nonsense. Politicians have urged us to integrate for ten seventeen years. It is drivel. We can see that now. I can well understand that the statue is in a way almost a Holy Grail for the Russians. I can see the Russian point. But I cannot see any excuse for this devastation. What really gets to me is, what does all this have to do with my local pub?
06`23
There is no more peace and calm in Estonia any more. A memorial has split the nation in two. Even among the younger generation, old Aljosha is still very current and topical. While the Russians accuse the Estonians of minimising the Nazi period, Estonians feel their national sovereignty threatened by their Russian neighbours.
06`36
OT Juri Estam
If Western Europe were to help the Russians re-invent themselves in new democratic ways, these misleading myths and legends might be replaced by something better and more positive.
06`50
Every ninth of May the Russians celebrate the liberation of Europe from the Nazis. In Tallinn the occasion is commemorated in front of this controversial memorial.
06`57
In front of the Estonian embassy in Moscow, Kremlin-supported youth organizations shout out their opinion of Estonians: Nazis Nazis. The issue is bound to lead to diplomatic conflict between Tallinn and Moscow.
7`00
O-Ton Sergej Lawrow, Russian Foreign Minister
We are appalled at the way in which these demonstrations have risen to hysteria. All the demonstrators actually wanted to do was protect a memorial of the liberation of the whole of Europe.
7`24
After all this commotion and international tension, Aljosha has found a new home in the war cemetery.
07`40
Young Russians look on warily to see whether this is genuine.
7`50 OTon
Man
You have to understand this we were abandoned back here, no money, work or, indeed, roof over our heads. Those were very hard times.
07`58
OTON Woman
Our uncle was killed during the war therefore the memorial is very relevant to us.
8`07 OTON Man
Our forefathers struggled for the freedom that we now enjoy. They fought against the fascists. This monument stands for that.
Aljosha has found its peace and folk now seem to have gradually reconciled themselves to its relocation.
Author: Patrick A. Hafner
Camera: C J Kask
Schnitt: Daniela Schwatczek