Response by Russian MFA Spokesman Andrei Nesterenko to a Media Question about the Upcoming Rally of Veterans of the Estonian 20th Waffen SS Division

Question: How would you comment on recent media reports that yet another rally of former legionnaires of the Estonian 20th Waffen SS division is planned to be held on July 31 in the small town of Sinimдe in northeastern Estonia while antifascist organizations have been denied permission to hold a parallel protest rally?

Answer: The Estonian authorities' encouragement of the organization of events that glorify the crimes of SS men is causing deep anger. Such actions can only be classified as a mockery of the memory of the victims of Nazism and those who died liberating Europe from the "Brown Shirt plague." We expect that international partners and relevant international organizations will give principled assessments of what is going on in Estonia.

July 26, 2010