Rioting over bronze statue

The controversial Soviet memorial which stands in Estonia's capital, Tallinn, the so-called bronze statue, was removed on the night of April 26th to a cemetery on the city outskirts. Shortly before its removal there was heavy rioting around the statue, with one person left dead and 40 injured. Russia had previously protested against the removal of the statue. The Estonian newspaper praises the security force's actions: "The operation was well-planned, but unfortunately despite the preparations a riot broke out. The demonstrators protested so violently that the police were forced to intervene. Although it's unclear whether the situation would have escalated, police intervention was necessary to maintain public order and safety. It's a pity that in the 21st century a statue can still cause bloodshed and martyrdom."

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