Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves (file photo) (ITAR-TASS)
February 22, 2007 -- Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves has formally vetoed legislation allowing for the removal of a Soviet war monument in central Tallinn.
Ilves said the bill -- which calls for the removal of all Soviet and Nazi war monuments -- violates Estonia's constitution.
MORE: RFE/RL spoke with Ilves in October 2006.
Ilves had vowed to reject the bill shortly after parliament approved it on February 15.
The bill sparked angry responses from Moscow and from Estonia's Russian minority.
(AP, AFP)