The removal of a monument honoring Estonians who fought alongside German forces during World War II has sparked protests. Prime Minister Juhan Parts told a news conference on Friday that his government had come under pressure from European Union countries and the United States to remove the monument, and the affair had harmed Estonia's image abroad. Parts said: "We had to prove to our friends and allies that their values are our values." The monument in the town of Lihula attracted criticism for glorifying Nazi SS units that included Estonian volunteers. The strongest criticism came from Russia and from Jewish groups. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe welcomed the Estonian authorities' decision to dismantle the monument. OSCE chairman Solomon Passy expressed satisfaction with the "efficient actions of the Estonian government to solve the issue of pulling down the said monument in the village of Lihula."
The monument contained the words: "To Estonian men who fought in 1940 to 45 against Bolshevism and for the restoration of Estonian independence." It featured an Estonian soldier in German uniform and was financed by Estonian war veterans. The order to take down the monument was given last week and implemented immediately. The monument is being stored at an unidentified location. About 400 people protested the removal, and there were violent clashes between police and protesters.