Moscow Says Russian Killed During Tallinn Riots

Tallinn demonstration (ITAR-TASS) April 28, 2007 -- The Russian Foreign Ministry says a Russian national was killed during rioting in Tallinn that was sparked by the Estonian government's removal of a Soviet World War II memorial.

Estonian officials said earlier that a man was stabbed to death in the April 26 riot. It was not immediately clear whether Moscow was referring to the same man.


The Russian Foreign Ministry accused Estonian law enforcement agencies of using what it called "excessive force" against protesters.


Meanwhile, police in Tallinn say about 70 people were injured overnight during the second night of unrest linked to the removal of the memorial. They say about 600 people have been detained.


Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has threatened that Moscow would take what he called "serious steps" in response to the removal of the monument -- which memorialized Soviet Red Army soldiers who fought against the Nazis during World War II.


(compiled from agency reports)

RFE/RL Russia Report

RFE/RL Russia Report


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