Rally against Estonian govt's asylum policy draws a couple of hundred participants

An estimated couple of hundred people took part in a rally against the government's policy concerning the acceptance of asylum seekers in the Estonian capital Tallinn on Wednesday, organizers told BNS.

«I claim that there are about 200 people at the square at Toompea now,» board chairman of the European National Front Silver Kuusik said. He added that while many people who attended the rally had left, new people were expected to join the protest in the evening.

The European National Front has obtained a 24-hour permit to hold a public gathering in Tallinn. The demonstration started in front of the German embassy in Toom-Kuninga street at 11 a.m., from where the participants proceeded to Freedom Square and then to Toompea. According to the program of the demonstration, the protesters will move from Toompea to the Town Hall Square via Freedom Square in the evening.

In a press release published ahead of the rally, Kuusik said the action was aimed at expressing protest against the government and the parliament having long ago neglected policies that are consistent with the interests of the Republic of Estonia and shunning the duties and principles imposed on elected politicians by the Constitution.

«A policy like this jeopardizes Estonia's independence, our day-to-day safety, as well as our ability to decide about our population policy,» he said.

Asked which parties sent their representatives to the rally, Kuusik named the Estonian Conservative People's Party (EKRE) in the first order. «Their deputies in the Riigikogu were the only ones that dared to come out,» Kuusik said.

The rally was attended by the leader of the non-parliamentary People's Unity Party, Kristiina Ojuland, and a speech was made by a member of the Free Party, Emil Rutiku.