Work has started to remove a controversial Soviet–era monument in the eastern city of Narva, with access to the site and that of two other monuments closed to the public, reports Estonian public media ERR.
ERR’s journalists, who are at the scene in Narva at the time of writing, said shortly after 7 a.m. that the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) had blocked the road leading to the monument, a T-34 type World War Two tank.
Unconfirmed reports say that the tank will be relocated to the Estonian War Museum (Eesti sõjamuuseumi) in Viimsi, just outside Tallinn.
Indrek Püvi, head of the PPA station in Narva, told ERR that the authority is restricting access to the public to the area around the Narva tank and other monuments nearby.
He said: «We are creating a perimeter around three Soviet-era war monuments on the Narva–Narva–Jõesuu road, to allow their safe removal. This means that the public are not permitted within this zone, while driving or parking vehicles is forbidden. The prohibited area is clearly marked with traffic signs, and there are PPA officers on the spot who, if necessary, will guide people to detour routes.»
As of just before 7 a.m. a handful of people and two security guards hired by city authorities to watch over the monument were at the location, as viewed via a live–linked security camera which was then switched off at 7 a.m., ERR reports.
The PPA’s eastern prefecture says it imposed the curfew at the monuments to ensure public safety, meaning closing the road to traffic and pedestrians alike.
While the city government in Narva had said last week the decision on the tank’s future should be a matter for local government, on Monday the decision was made to opt out of making that decision, giving the state a free rein.
Interior minister Lauri Läänemets said that the tank would be removed before August 20, Restoration of Independence Day in Estonia. At the same time Prime Minister Kaja Kallas (Reform) told ERR that the removal of the tank would not take place under cover of darkness.
The removal of the tank is particularly sensitive given that Narva’s populace is majority Russian–speaking, while the state is anxious to avoid any disruption during the removal process.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine from February 24 has brought Soviet–era monuments across Estonia into focus; several such monuments and statues have already been relocated or removed.
Work has started to remove a controversial Soviet–era monument in Narva
