Estonia removes Soviet-era monument, citing public order

By JAN M. OLSEN
Associated Press

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Estonia’s government has started removing a Soviet World War II monument near the country’s border with Russia as part of a wider effort to dismantle remaining Soviet-era symbols. On Tuesday, crews removed a replica of a T-34 tank that sat atop the monument outside the city of Narva. It’s headed for the Estonian War Museum north of the capital, Tallinn. The monument commemorates Soviet soldiers who died fighting Nazi Germany during World War II. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said a neutral grave marker would replace the tank  and the memorial outside Narva would “remain a dignified site for commemorating the dead.” A Kremlin spokesman called the move “outrageous.”