The tank monument T-34 was dismantled. Why did the Estonian authorities close the border with Russia?

In the region of the cities of Narva and Ivangorod, the passage of vehicles from the border of Russia and Estonia was temporarily stopped. stoped Tuesday, 16 August, in connection with the decision of the Estonian side. In response, Russian customs officials also temporarily stopped vehicles from crossing and crossing the border. TASS.

“As of 8:00 on August 16, movement on the Russian-Estonian border in the Ivangorod-Narva region (Ivangorod checkpoint) has been closed indefinitely. According to the information of the Estonian side, stopping the entry and exit of trucks and cars, as well as individuals, is connected with updating software tools.

According to GoSwift, the reservation system for crossing the Estonian state border, more than 550 cars lined up to enter Russia through the Narva border checkpoint.

Then the Russian side, the traffic continuedcheckpoints are working normally.

Demolition of the tank-monument T-34

by portal DelphiThe suspension of cross-border traffic was caused by efforts to dismantle the Soviet tank monument T-34 and other Soviet commemorative landmarks in Narva.

“The police and border guard department responded to a request by the police to restrict traffic in connection with the relocation of monuments in Narva,” the publication said.

As noted in the department, temporary restrictions also affected the passage of the Estonian-Russian border through Narva. The city is separated from the territory of the Russian Federation by a river, on the other side of which the Russian Ivangorod is located. Narva residents who want to cross the border on foot were advised to use the Narva-2 border crossing.

previous portal ERROR On the morning of August 16, he reported that the dismantling of the T-34 memorial tank, installed in honor of the liberation of the city from the Wehrmacht by Soviet troops in 1944, began in Narva. The demolition is now complete.

The tank was placed in a cargo vehicle belonging to the Estonian Defense Forces and retrieved from the city.

-newspaper writer Mailings.

The T-34 is expected to be delivered to the Estonian War Museum in Viimsi.

On Tuesday, the republican government decided to dismantle the Soviet military monuments in the Ida-Virumaa district, including the T-34 tank, because the city council of Narva “refused to decide” on the transfer of this monument the day before. . According to Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu, the Cabinet unanimously concluded that “Soviet monuments have no place in Estonia”.

Narva officials have repeatedly opposed the idea of ​​transporting the monument by T-34 tank, noting that the monument is part of the identity of Russian-speaking residents, who make up about 80% of the city’s population.

In addition, the local government noted that the monument symbolizes the pride of the Russian-speaking population for their participation in liberating Estonia from the Nazis.

Against this background, the current mayor of Narva, Katri Raik, announced that she refused to run for the Estonian parliament in the March elections, following the country’s decision to disband the T-34 memorial tank, despite protests from the Cabinet of Ministers. “I will not be a candidate for either side. Now I’m just trying to work for the benefit of Narva.

“Now I can’t imagine sitting in the same room with people who have made such a decision,” he said.

– quotes your words DEA News”.

Close the border for the Russians

From 18 August, citizens of the Russian Federation holding a Schengen visa issued by Estonia, closed entrance to the territory of this country.

At the same time, employees and their families of diplomatic missions in Estonia, as well as persons engaged in international transport or have the right to free movement under EU law, will not be subject to sanctions.

In addition, restrictions will not apply to persons who are required to enter Estonia for humanitarian reasons, close relatives of citizens of the republic, or holders of permanent residence permits in Estonia.

At the same time, in the future, the Estonian authorities plan to ban the entry of all Russians with a Schengen visa of any country – the Cabinet will consider the issue this week.

According to experts, the statement in which the restriction is presented indicates that Russians can still enter Estonia with the Schengen of other countries. Also, the Schengen Free Movement Act guarantees free movement within 90 days to anyone holding a visa issued by any of the 26 members in the territory of the treaty countries.