Russian citizen’s murder in Estonia: 10 detained on involvement

Ten people have been detained in Estonia in connection with the murder of a Russian citizen Dmitry Ganin who was killed during rioting against the relocation of a Soviet War memorial in Tallinn two months ago.

At the same time a man of Russian origin suspected of instigating the mass riots was released from police custody. 

Two days of fierce protests at the end of April ended with hundreds detained and dozens injured in the Estonian capital. The Russian ethnic minority in Estonia was protesting against the removal of the “Bronze Soldier” monument in the city.

Mostly young people were involved in the street protests, and 20-year-old Dmitry Ganin was one of them.

Dmitry was beaten and allegedly stabbed in the chest by one of the Estonian radicals. Meanwhile, the violence reached its peak as looting and vandalism broke out and police clashed with protesters. The reaction of the police was relentless. Dozens suffered assault and battery, but only ten criminal cases were brought to court. 

The police said they were doing their duty. 

“During the situation it was necessary to arrest people fast in order to return forces to the streets. When the monument was in the city centre we had to protect it. Now the cemetery will protect it in the same way,” said a local policeman.

In the end the protesters weren't able to change anything. The Bronze Monument and the remains of twelve Soviet soldiers buried under it were moved to a military cemetery. 

Ethnic Russians regarded the action as an insult and blasphemy. Many consider that the fierce protest was caused not so much by the reburial itself, but by Estonia's attitude towards the memory of the World War II and the liberation, which they call occupation.