After the Bronze night: 9 May in contemporary Estonia

Abstract

The article deals with the transformation of the interpretation of 9 May in Estonia after the Bronze Night in Tallinn (2007) which was marked by sizeable clashes between Russian-speaking and Estonian youth. The celebration of Victory Day at the monument to the Unknown Soldier which had been moved outside the city centre and the march of the “Immortal Regiment” are seen as an attempt to compensate for the traumatic experience of the Russian-speaking population of Estonia. It is pointed out that the Bronze Soldier has acquired the meaning of a physical embodiment and a symbol of consolidation of the protest of the local Russians who are defending their right to historical memory. The article notes the painful reaction of the Estonian population to the celebration of 9 May which is perceived as a threat of social unrest among the Russian minority and questioning the sovereignty of the whole country.

Keywords

• russian-speaking minority
• baltic countries
• integration policy
• decommunisation
• russian estonians
• ethnic politics
• bronze night