Recently, in connection with the 75th anniversary of the June 1941 mass deportations seven members of the Estonian parliament refused to vote for a declaration, that usually has universal support, that people name as a “motherhood” statement.
Eighty three members supported the proposal, with none voting against. Yet seven members of the Centre Party – Dmtri Dmitrijev, Olga Ivanova, Mihhail Korb, Valeri Korb, Martin Repinsky, Mihhail Stalnuhhin and Valdimir Velman – all Russian speakers, refrained from voting during the confirmation of a declaration which commemorated the memory of those that were brutally deported on June 14, 1941, many of whom lost their lives, others their families. Parliament also honoured the victims by accompanying the vote with standing silently in mourning.
The Russian speakers state that the declaration refers only to ethnic Estonians as the victims of deportation, something that is blatantly discriminatory. Mart Nutt, the author of the declaration said that, although the vast majority of the deportees were ethnic Estonians, other ethnic peoles were also amongst the victims.
The declaration states: “Seventy-five years ago today, on the tragic day of June 14, 1941 thousands of Estonian people were the targets of communist Soviet blood-soaked violence. On that tragic date more than 10,000 Estonian residents were arrested during the dark night and early morning by armed Soviet officials…..Our moral duty is to commemorate the victims of totalitarian regimes and to pass on of the knowledge of what occurred to future generations.”
The references to “Estonian people” (Eesti inimesi) or to “Estonian residents” (Eesti elanikud) were clearly meant to include [b]all people that lived in Estonia[b]. Neither reference has any remote connection to ethnicity. (Pikemalt Eesti Elu 24. juuni paberlehest)
