Mark Sirők
Encyclopedia
Mark Sirők is a Russian-speaking Estonian political activist. He is designated as a commissar
of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi
and a leader of the movement in Estonia.
His name's original spelling includes ő
, a letter unique to Hungarian language
. Accordingly, he is also known as Mark Siryk after double transliteration through Cyrillic, and his name is sometimes alternatively spelt Mark Sirök or Mark Sirõk, replacing ő with similar yet more common letters. In English-language texts, Mark Sirok is also used.
riots in Tallinn
that left 150 people injured in April 2007. After the riots, he was arrested and together with Dmitri Linter
, Dmitri Klenski and Maksim Reva later tried for inciting rioting. Among other evidence, investigation by Estonian Security Police had claimed that he had been organizing the "guard" near the Bronze Soldier by sending SMS
's offering a pay of 80 Estonian kroon
s per hour, a rate somewhat higher than the average salary at that time, at several times higher than the minimum wage
. The cash to be paid for the "guards" had been allegedly received from Russia.
All four were acquitted by the district court in January 2009, the ruling has upheld by Tallinn Court of Appeal in April, and the Supreme Court refused to review the case in July.
, Sirők has said he supports the constitution of Estonia
and is not anti-Estonian. In particular, he highlighted his work in neutralising anti-Estonian sentiment
, which he said was widespread among Nashi members. At the time of interview, Sirők had not voted in any Estonian elections on account of his youth, but said he would likely vote for Keskerakond in future elections.
Commissar
Commissar is the English transliteration of an official title used in Russia from the time of Peter the Great.The title was used during the Provisional Government for regional heads of administration, but it is mostly associated with a number of Cheka and military functions in Bolshevik and Soviet...
of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi
Nashi
Nashi may refer to:*Nashi , a Russian youth movement*Nashi , a former Russian political movement*Nashi pear*Nashi , a northeast wind which occurs in winter on the Iranian coast of the Persian Gulf...
and a leader of the movement in Estonia.
His name's original spelling includes ő
O
O is the fifteenth letter and a vowel in the basic modern Latin alphabet.The letter was derived from the Semitic `Ayin , which represented a consonant, probably , the sound represented by the Arabic letter ع called `Ayn. This Semitic letter in its original form seems to have been inspired by a...
, a letter unique to Hungarian language
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
. Accordingly, he is also known as Mark Siryk after double transliteration through Cyrillic, and his name is sometimes alternatively spelt Mark Sirök or Mark Sirõk, replacing ő with similar yet more common letters. In English-language texts, Mark Sirok is also used.
The Bronze Night in 2007
Sirők has mainly garnered attention in relation to the Bronze NightBronze Night
The Bronze Night , also known as the April Unrest and April Events refer to the controversy and riots in Estonia surrounding the 2007 relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn, the Soviet World War II memorial in Tallinn....
riots 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...
that left 150 people injured in April 2007. After the riots, he was arrested and together with Dmitri Linter
Dmitri Linter
Dmitri Linter is an internationalist activist. He is a leader of the Nochnoy Dozor advocacy group that opposed the relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn memorial.- Biography :...
, Dmitri Klenski and Maksim Reva later tried for inciting rioting. Among other evidence, investigation by Estonian Security Police had claimed that he had been organizing the "guard" near the Bronze Soldier by sending SMS
SMS
SMS is a form of text messaging communication on phones and mobile phones. The terms SMS or sms may also refer to:- Computer hardware :...
's offering a pay of 80 Estonian kroon
Estonian kroon
In 1992, coins were introduced in denominations of 5, 10, 20 & 50 senti, as well as 1 kroon. The 1 kroon was struck in cupronickel, the others in aluminum-bronze. However, in 1997, nickel-plated steel 20 senti were introduced, followed by aluminum-bronze 1 kroon in 1998. 5 senti coins were not...
s per hour, a rate somewhat higher than the average salary at that time, at several times higher than the minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
. The cash to be paid for the "guards" had been allegedly received from Russia.
All four were acquitted by the district court in January 2009, the ruling has upheld by Tallinn Court of Appeal in April, and the Supreme Court refused to review the case in July.
Political views
In an interview with Eesti EkspressEesti Ekspress
Eesti Ekspress was the first politically independent newspaper in the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic during the Soviet control of Estonia. Making use of Gorbachev's policies of perestroika and glasnost, it was established as a weekly newspaper in 1989 by Hans H. Luik and others...
, Sirők has said he supports the constitution of Estonia
Constitution of Estonia
The Constitution of Estonia is the fundamental law of the Republic of Estonia and establishes the state order as that of a democratic republic where the supreme power is vested in its citizens. It was adopted in a freely elected Estonian Constituent Assembly on 15 June 1920 and came into force on...
and is not anti-Estonian. In particular, he highlighted his work in neutralising anti-Estonian sentiment
Anti-Estonian sentiment
Anti-Estonian sentiment generally describes dislike or hate of the Estonian people or the Republic of Estonia. Its opposite is Estophilia.-Bronze Soldier controversy:...
, which he said was widespread among Nashi members. At the time of interview, Sirők had not voted in any Estonian elections on account of his youth, but said he would likely vote for Keskerakond in future elections.
See also
- Bronze NightBronze NightThe Bronze Night , also known as the April Unrest and April Events refer to the controversy and riots in Estonia surrounding the 2007 relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn, the Soviet World War II memorial in Tallinn....
- Dmitri LinterDmitri LinterDmitri Linter is an internationalist activist. He is a leader of the Nochnoy Dozor advocacy group that opposed the relocation of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn memorial.- Biography :...
- Nochnoy Dozor (pressure group)Nochnoy Dozor (pressure group)Nochnoy Dozor is a group of mostly Russophone political activists living in Estonia. It was set up in the summer of 2006, with its original declared goal of defending the Bronze Soldier, a monument grave marker in Tallinn, near the Estonian National Library and next to a trolleybus stop, against...