Putin Accuses Europe of Ignoring Nazism in the Baltics

[Gnist]

International Relations | 11.10.2007
Putin Accuses Europe of Ignoring Nazism in the Baltics
PICTURE: A man runs by exploding flares launched by rebels on a street of central Tallinn during the second night of riots in Estonia. CAPTION: Tensions between Russians and Estonians escalated in April in Tallinn

In a speech to the European Jewish Congress on Wednesday, Oct. 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is dismayed by Estonia and Latvia's glorification of Nazism. Europe needs to take notice, Putin said.

Putin, speaking in Moscow to the European Jewish Congress, said he was shocked when an annual Waffen SS parade took place in Latvia in March. He added that it was disturbing that the European Union has largely ignored the problems of pro-Nazi groups in these countries.

"Some facts which we come up against in several countries of eastern Europe have provoked open astonishment and incomprehension," Putin said. "The activities of the Latvian and Estonian authorities openly connive at the glorification of Nazis and their accomplices. But these facts remain unnoticed by the European Union."

In 2006, Latvian officials banned an annual parade that glorifies the Latvian Waffen SS against Russia's Red Army. Some far right supporters marched anyway.

Legacy of mistrust
PICTURE: World War II memorial in Tallinn. CAPTION: A controversial war memorial

Putin's remarks are the latest volley in a political war of words between the Baltic countries and Russia. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia joined the European Union in 2004, in part to seek protection from their domineering former rulers in Moscow.

Soviet forces annexed the Baltic countries during World War II. The war split the population between those who fought for Nazi Germany and those who supported Russia. In Russia's view, it liberated the countries from Nazi occupation in a victory that cost it 20 million lives. Germany's defeat is seen as an important historical event and it rejects the accusation that it occupied eastern European countries.

But many people from the Baltic states see the Red Army's arrival as the beginning of five decades of Soviet rule. During that time, thousands of Estonians were deported to Soviet prison camps and Russians settled in the country.

Strained relations continue
PICTURE: People lay flowers at the Bronze Soldier statue at its new location. CAPTION: Paying respects

Animosity flared up again earlier this year when Estonian authorities moved a bronze statue of a Red Army soldier from a downtown Tallinn square and moved it to a military cemetery. Rioting caused by the decision to relocate the war memorial left one person dead and a dozen injured. Further protests by pro-Kremlin youths at the Estonian consulate in Moscow lead to scuffles with bodyguards.

In June, Estonia buried the remains of eight Soviet soldiers who had been exhumed from the Tallinn war memorial. The soldiers were reburied in the Estonian defense forces' cemetery, the same place where the statue was relocated.

A month before the reburial, Estonia came under massive cyber attacks, crippling government and corporate Web sites for nearly three weeks. The Estonian government suggested that Russia could have been behind the attacks and asked for help from NATO, which agreed to investigate the incident. Russia has denied any involvement in the cyber attacks.

Germany has participated in some behind-the-scenes negotiating on various issues between Russia and the Baltic countries, but the EU has largely refrained from inserting itself in the disputes.

Russia wants an apology
PICTURE: Russian youth in Estonia. CAPTION: The Baltics have a large population of Russian minorities

The situation in Estonia remains volatile. Russia's EU ambassador has said that Estonia still owes Russia an apology for moving the monument. Without an apology for moving the monument, protests could continue, he said.

Putin brought up the war memorial issue Wednesday.

"We are seeing a position on the limit of hypocrisy by certain European structures over the moving of the liberation soldier monument in Tallinn," Putin said.

Putin noted that since Estonia's independence in 1991, "not a single Nazi criminal has been condemned."

Putin admitted there were acts of anti-Semitism in Russia as well as "chauvinistic, xenophobic and nationalistic demonstrations."

Moshe Kantor, head of the European Jewish Congress, asked Putin to recognize the International Holocaust Day, which was introduced by the United Nations in November 2005. Russia seemed to support the declaration but has not implemented it, Kantor said.


DW staff (th)

Putin Accuses Europe of Ignoring Nazism in the Baltics | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 11.10.2007

I thought that this is rather interesting considering the recent debate on Putinism here, as well as the geopolitical and ethnic conflicts going on in the Baltic.

[Marulus]

Incredible. Does absolutely everyone have to bow in front of the chosenites?

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by Plethon

Incredible. Does absolutely everyone have to bow in front of the chosenites?

Sadly this looks like President Putin is using the Jewish issue as a stick to beat the Baltic states. Here's the quote in question:

...

I would like to turn to another important topic. Russia has the greatest respect for the work of the Jewish communities to preserve the historical truth of the Holocaust and other Nazi crimes, and of course for the glorious deeds of the soldiers who died freeing Europe from the “brown plague”.


History has shown many times that when nationalism and anti-semitism run rampant, it is the result of neglecting the lessons of the past, of the attempts to rewrite history and to sow the seeds of revanchism. And consequently one cannot but be alarmed by appearances in Europe (including in the EU countries) of a tendency to rewrite history in this area, attempts to cast doubts on the liberating role of the anti-Hitler coalition armies, including the Soviet army during the Second World War, and attempts to whitewash the crimes of Nazism.


For example, some of the facts with which we have been confronted in some countries of Eastern Europe have frankly provoked astonishment and incomprehension. We know that Holocaust denial is a crime in a number of European countries. At the same time, the Latvian and Estonian authorities have openly condoned the glorification of Nazis and their accomplices. And these facts have gone unnoticed by the European Union countries. In Estonia, after the declaration of independence there, not a single Nazi offender was punished. In Latvia, every year on March 16, with the permission of the authorities, neo-Nazis meet on the anniversary of the creation of the Latvian Legion Waffen SS.


We also see the strange position, bordering on hypocrisy, of some European institutions concerning the transfer of the Soldier Liberator monument in Tallinn. I want to note with gratitude the position of Jewish organisations in the Baltic States, which directly, openly and honestly stated their position on this issue. I would like to express our appreciation and gratitude for this.
Here is another example. Certain political forces in Ukraine are trying to whitewash the members of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Rebel Army responsible for the mass extermination of Jews in Ukraine. I think this is totally unacceptable.


Again, such moves are fraught with great danger, the growth of mistrust and intolerance on our continent. Therefore, we expect that states and public organizations, including the European Jewish Congress, will not ignore them or neglect to respond they way they should.


I am glad that you were able to meet in Russia, in Moscow. And please accept once again my most heartfelt welcome.

President of Russia

[Exeter]

What about neo-Nazism in Russia?

[Almost a Christian]

Putin himself has his domestic Jewish bigwigs either ditched or under his control so he now feels free to ride on the coat tails of the "holocaust" to drum up Russian nationalism in their historic role as warriors against fascism, trying to wrong foot the Zionist media campaign against him and look the wronged party as per the "pro-Nazi" Baltic states. None of this stops him being pals with notorious international "holocaust denier" numero uno, Dr. A, of course..

He's relaxed at home now so he can rattle of some self righteous pro-Zionist platitudes in order to maximise his international clout. Clever man..

[Errigal]

I think what president Putin is saying in his opening speech is essentially "you Jews should be reminded publicly about a few uncomfortable facts concerning your new Baltic friends."

I wish he hadn't said this but it is the Estonians and Lithuanians who have been bringing the American neocons into to the quarrel with Russia. I don't like taking the side of the Red Army against the Baltic nations in an historical argument, but I also don't like how the Estonians in particular have allowed themselves to become part of the anti-Putin campaign in "the West".

[wilpuri]

Originally Posted by Errigal

I wish he hadn't said this but it is the Estonians and Lithuanians who have been bringing the American neocons into to the quarrel with Russia. I don't like taking the side of the Red Army against the Baltic nations in an historical argument, but I also don't like how the Estonians in particular have allowed themselves to become part of the anti-Putin campaign in "the West".

What exactly do you mean, "allowed themselves to become part of the anti-Putin campaign in the West"? They are being called a Nazi state for crying out loud.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

What exactly do you mean, "allowed themselves to become part of the anti-Putin campaign in the West"?
...

I mean the accusation that the Russian government was behind a "cyber attack" last spring:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle1802959.ece

... even though it looks as though it looks like it was amateurs involved rather than the Russian government:

Analysis: Who was behind Estonia's cyber attack?

And the Estonian government's decision to block exploration of a pipeline route:

FT.com / Home UK / UK - Russia attacks Estonia over pipeline survey

Putin also has in mind the welcome Latvia gave to Berezovsky and President Bush's brother Neil:

Berezovsky, Neil Bush, Latvian businessmen meet

Originally Posted by wilpuri

They are being called a Nazi state for crying out loud.

Not really, he is saying that they openly allow SS veterans to have their commemorations.

I myself wish Putin had left the whole topic alone.

[wilpuri]

Originally Posted by Errigal

I mean the accusation that the Russian government was behind a "cyber attack" last spring:

Estonia accuses Russia of \' waging cyber war\' - Times Online

... even though it looks as though it looks like it was amateurs involved rather than the Russian government:

Analysis: Who was behind Estonia\'s cyber attack?

And the Estonian government's decision to block exploration of a pipeline route:

FT.com / Home UK / UK - Russia attacks Estonia over pipeline survey

Putin also has in mind the welcome Latvia gave to Berezovsky and President Bush's brother Neil:

Berezovsky, Neil Bush, Latvian businessmen meet

Estonia is not anti-Russia because it is pro-US, it is pro-US because of its ongoing problems with Russia. Unless you've noticed, this is quite common for small countries threatened by big countries - to align with a big country that is against the threatening big country. Its all swell when you're sitting in the middle of the atlantic on an island sipping on your guiness, with the threat of British imperialism more or less gone.

Not really, he is saying that they openly allow SS veterans to have their commemorations.

I'm pretty sure I remember direct allegations that Estonia is some sort of 3rd reich re-incarnate from members of the Russian government but it may be that my memory fails me. Anyway, its a hell of a lot more than about SS veterans, did you forget the statue already? "The oppression of Russians"? The stream of slander and absurd accusations has reached completely other-wordly proportions. Completely surreal.

I myself wish Putin had left the whole topic alone.

He needs to whip up support and unity through vulgar displays of Russian chauvinism and misinterpretation of history.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Exeter

What about neo-Nazism in Russia?

It's under control.

Much of what you see, especially in the lunatic fringe front, is the doing of the FSB.

In some aspects (and at a different scale and time period) what goes on in Russia in the nationalist entourage reminds me a little of what we lived in Spain through the late 70s and early 80s. And, if the comparison is valid, I can only say that the damage to the development of Russian Nationalism can be considerably high.

[Loorberitega Pärjatu]

Calling us fascist is nothing new. They have called us fascists during all those years of occupation. It's basicly because we write with "German letters" (as Brezhnev said), we speak different language, have different temperament etc. Being different is a crime in Russian culture. If you are not with us, you are against us = you are an enemy.

[Errigal]

Originally Posted by wilpuri

Estonia is not anti-Russia because it is pro-US, it is pro-US because of its ongoing problems with Russia. Unless you've noticed, this is quite common for small countries threatened by big countries - to align with a big country that is against the threatening big country.
...

He needs to whip up support and unity through vulgar displays of Russian chauvinism and misinterpretation of history.

I think it is sensible and ethical for Estonia to want powerful friends to counterbalance their large neighbour; that is normal. What would be dangerous and destructive for Estonia would be any policy which allows the US to use them as a diplomatic weapon against Russia.

The neocons would happily use Estonia and the other Baltic states the way Denmark was used in the cartoon controversy; as the bait to provoke a rival into lashing out.

[Loorberitega Pärjatu]

We are perfectly aware that nothing is done just from kind heart at international level.

[Menydh]

Originally Posted by Loorberitega Pärjatu

We are perfectly aware that nothing is done just from kind heart at international level.

Unfortunately true. I still have to see Estonians and Finns putting only half as much effort in the issue of immigration and ethnic/national dissolution of their "fellow" European countries, as they put in presenting Russians as evil people as if following the directives of master Washington.

The record is, so far, depressing.

[Ostrogorski]

Originally Posted by Almost a Christian

Putin himself has his domestic Jewish bigwigs either ditched or under his control so he now feels free to ride on the coat tails of the "holocaust" to drum up Russian nationalism in their historic role as warriors against fascism, trying to wrong foot the Zionist media campaign against him and look the wronged party as per the "pro-Nazi" Baltic states. None of this stops him being pals with notorious international "holocaust denier" numero uno, Dr. A, of course..

He's relaxed at home now so he can rattle of some self righteous pro-Zionist platitudes in order to maximise his international clout. Clever man..

Nothing more to add to this comment except BRAVO!