The monument was moved under police supervision in Narva, where most of the population speaks Russian.
21:49•Updated 21:50
Estonia’s Soviet history is now less visible than before in the cityscape of Narva, located in the eastern part of the country. The disputed Soviet-era tank monument was moved from the city on Tuesday morning. Among other things, the news covered the matter Estonian public broadcasting company ERR (you will switch to another service).
The monument can now be found in the Viimsi War Museum.
The Estonian government’s decision to remove also concerned six other monuments located in Narva.
Public access to the vicinity of the monument was restricted until it was removed on Tuesday morning. The police had, among other things, closed the roads leading to the monument and supervised its relocation.
The Estonian police tell ERR that the day has mostly gone peacefully.
The police have arrested at least eight people who opposed the moving of the monument on Tuesday. Narva police chief Indrek Püvi tells for ERR (you switch to another service)that seven of the arrested were local men already known to the police.
– For example, they have spread symbols of war and actively urged others to oppose the transfer violently, Püvi says.
In addition, one of the arrested had threatened the person behind the movement of the monument.
A controversial decision
The removal of the monuments has sparked a heated public debate in Estonia, especially after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February.
For example, in Narva, the majority of the population is Russian-speaking. The mayor of the city opposed moving the monument.
Prime minister Kaja Kallas has stated that Soviet-era monuments are no longer only a local matter, but also a matter of national security.
– None of us wants a militarily aggressive and hostile neighbor to ignite tensions in our home, says Kallas.
The Estonian government decided to move the tank on Monday. Kallas said after the decision that the government wants to act quickly to maintain order. The city of Narva refrained from making the controversial decision.
– We decided in the government to move the monuments of former foreign power so that they could not raise even more anger in society and tear open old wounds, says Kallas.
The relocation of the statue, known as the Bronze Soldier, sparked riots in Tallinn in 2007.