Estonia has reacted harshly to Putin’s remarks about history
On June 10, the Estonian Foreign Ministry sent a note of protest to Russian Ambassador to Estonia Vladimir Lipayev
Estonian Foreign Ministry on June 10, Russia’s ambassador to Estonia Vladimir Lipayevsubmitted a note of protest.
According to the ministry, the note “protests against recent statements by President Putin about history.”
The Estonian Foreign Ministry told the Russian ambassador that the Russian president’s remarks about the Estonian city of Narva were regrettable, especially at a time when Russia was intervening in Ukraine.
The Estonian Foreign Ministry said:
“Rather than respecting international law and the principles of state sovereignty and territorial integrity, Russia uses propaganda to carry out its imperialist ambitions, in addition to the military, but also to falsify history,” he said. Such an approach is doomed to failure and could ultimately be dangerous for Russia itself. ”
What did Putin say?
Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with young entrepreneurs on June 9 that Russian Emperor Peter I did not take land from Sweden in the Northern Wars of 1700-1722.
According to him, Peter I “returned” and “strengthened” the Russian lands.
“Now it is our destiny to return and strengthen our lands,” Putin said.
Putin stated that along with the Finno-Ugric peoples, the Slavs had lived in the lands occupied by Peter I for centuries.
He added that these lands have always been under the control of the Russian state.
For example, Putin spoke about the city of St. Petersburg, founded in 1703 by Peter I.
He said that at first European countries did not recognize these territories as Russian territory.
Talk about tearing down the ladder
During the conversation, Putin also made allegations about the Estonian city of Narva.
According to history, in 1700, at the very beginning of the Northern War, the Swedes defeated the Russian army in a battle near Narva.
However, a few years later, Russia was able to regain control of Narvan and the whole of Estonia.
There is a house-museum of Peter I in Tallinn.
Russia has officially stated that it has no territorial claims against Estonia.