Russia condemns Estonian SS legion reunion
Russia's Foreign Ministry condemned Monday a meeting of veterans of Estonia's Waffen SS division in the Baltic state over the weekend, calling it an outrageous event and regretting that it received official backing.
Estonian SS veterans and their supporters gathered Saturday in the northeast of the country to commemorate one of the bloodiest battles in Estonia during World War II. Reunions to glorify so-called fighters against the Soviet occupation have become a tradition in the Baltic state in recent years, angering Russia.
"Moscow is deeply outraged by reports of a regular session of Estonian SS Division 20... which Estonian authorities have chosen to call 'fighters for Estonia's freedom,' ignoring the internationally-recognized decisions of the Nuremburg Tribunal," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The open glorification of former Nazi fighters' actions in World War II by the Estonian government, voiced in a congratulatory speech to members of the Nazi coven by the defense minister, is especially outrageous," the ministry said.
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Estonian SS veterans and their supporters gathered Saturday in the northeast of the country to commemorate one of the bloodiest battles in Estonia during World War II. Reunions to glorify so-called fighters against the Soviet occupation have become a tradition in the Baltic state in recent years, angering Russia.
"Moscow is deeply outraged by reports of a regular session of Estonian SS Division 20... which Estonian authorities have chosen to call 'fighters for Estonia's freedom,' ignoring the internationally-recognized decisions of the Nuremburg Tribunal," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"The open glorification of former Nazi fighters' actions in World War II by the Estonian government, voiced in a congratulatory speech to members of the Nazi coven by the defense minister, is especially outrageous," the ministry said.