Estonian Patriotic Movement
Encyclopedia
The Estonian Patriotic Movement (Eesti Rahvuslik Liikumine; ERL) is a political pressure group in Estonia
. The group was set up in the summer of 2006 to promote the removal of the monument to the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn
from the heart of the Estonia
n capital, Tallinn
. As of May 2007, it claims a membership of 220.
, dislike for Estonia being a member state of European Union
, support for a NATO military base being installed in Estonia
and disdain for Keskerakond's perceived improper acts.
The movement has also repeatedly expressed displeasure for Russian Federation's covert influence in Estonia's internal affairs. On June 20, 2007, the movement issued a press release demanding declaring the Russian Ambassador to Estonia, Nikolai Uspenski, a persona non grata
based on his repeated attempts to exert such influence. This was triggered by the ambassador's presence on an establishment meeting of Russki Mir in Tallinn
.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
. The group was set up in the summer of 2006 to promote the removal of the monument to the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn
Bronze Soldier of Tallinn
The Bronze Soldier is the informal name of a controversial Soviet World War II war memorial in Tallinn, Estonia, built at the site of several war graves, which were relocated to the nearby Tallinn Military Cemetery in 2007...
from the heart of the Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n capital, Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
. As of May 2007, it claims a membership of 220.
Politics
, the primary political positions of the ERL are opposition to building the planned Nord Stream pipeline through the Baltic SeaBaltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
, dislike for Estonia being a member state of European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, support for a NATO military base being installed in Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and disdain for Keskerakond's perceived improper acts.
The movement has also repeatedly expressed displeasure for Russian Federation's covert influence in Estonia's internal affairs. On June 20, 2007, the movement issued a press release demanding declaring the Russian Ambassador to Estonia, Nikolai Uspenski, a persona non grata
Persona non grata
Persona non grata , literally meaning "an unwelcome person", is a legal term used in diplomacy that indicates a proscription against a person entering the country...
based on his repeated attempts to exert such influence. This was triggered by the ambassador's presence on an establishment meeting of Russki Mir in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.