Soviet Monuments in Estonia

Soviet Monuments in Estonia are in a strange and precarious position. In western Estonia, Soviet monuments have been completely removed. In eastern Estonia, where there is a large ethnic Russian population, especially around the city of Narva, some remain standing in public spaces. However, with Estonia’s strong connections with the West and the European Union after the collapse of the Soviet Union, many monuments that remain standing are neglected by officials and moved to positions of lesser importance. The memory of the Soviet Union is a point of protest and contention between the population. Estonia has dealt with this like most former Soviet Republics have, by uprooting Soviet statues from their positions and placing them in monument gardens. There they remain with other Soviet Statues that have been placed there from throughout the country.[1]