Estonia is making headlines as it begins the process of removing gravestones at the tombs of Soviet soldiers in Tehumardi cemetery on Saarema Island. The excavation work started on Monday, with plans to reinter the remains at a cemetery in Vananomme. Only a sword-shaped obelisk will remain at the site, and some of the text will be covered up. The removal of the burial place was at the request of Saaremaa Municipality, with Deputy Mayor Liis Lepik confirming the decision.
This action is part of Estonia’s national campaign of de-Sovietization, in sync with Latvia and Lithuania. The Baltic States have a history entwined with Russia, transitioning from the Russian Empire to independence in 1918, then becoming part of the Soviet Union during WWII. After the USSR’s collapse in 1991, they joined the EU and NATO, viewing the Soviet-era monuments as symbols of oppression.
However, the Russian government has condemned these actions, labeling them as attempts to erase Russian culture and rewrite history. Despite political tensions, Estonia remains steadfast in its efforts to redefine its historical narrative.