Restoring Stalin monument will inhibit Georgia-Estonia cooperation, says Estonian MP

BNS
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Photo: TOOMAS HUIK/PM/SCANPIX BALTICS

Restoration of the monument to Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin in Georgia will have an inhibiting effect on Estonia's cooperation with the Caucasus country, MP Andres Herkel who chairs the Estonia-Georgia parliamentary group believes.

"Georgia's western allies will not understand this and it is bound to leave a negative imprint also on Estonia's cooperation with Georgia. Even so, Georgia's new leaders have so far considered this cooperation necessary, but no doubt such a step will among other things curb the enthusiasm of the Estonia-Georgia parliamentary group," the lawmaker told BNS.

Although the Georgian Ministry of Culture said on Wednesday it did not give orders for the restoration of the Stalin statue in his hometown Gori and the decision is in the hands of the local government, Herkel says it's hard to believe such decisions are made without the approval of the central government.

"This is not convincing, because no self-government in Georgia is prone to doing something that the central government doesn't think right. At least, not in issues of such importance," he said.

The way he sees it, this step also puts in doubt claims of President Mikhail Saakashvili's opponents that there are no political motives behind the arrests of former politicians and officials and that they are only fighting against misuse of power and corruption.

"Such claims do not sound believable when at the same time approval is given to the restoration of the monument to one of the biggest abusers of power of the 20th century, a dictator who brought suffering to nations and death to millions of people," Herkel said.

The monument to Stalin that was dismantled three years ago will be put up again in his hometown Gori, the Georgian Ministry of Culture said on Tuesday. The statue will be restored by the anniversary of his birthdate, Dec. 21, a spokeswoman for the ministry said.

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