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EESTI ELU reedel, 10. jaanuaril 2020 — Friday, January 10, 2020
English-language supplement to the Estonian weekly “EESTI ELU” Tartu College Publications Founding Chairman: Elmar Tampõld Editor: Laas Leivat 3 Madison Avenue, Toronto, ON M5R 2S2 T: 416-733-4550 • F: 416-733-0944 • E-mail: editor@eestielu.ca Digital: www.eestielu.ca
Russia creates the history it needs It wasn’t a friendly Christmas wish sent to Poland during the holidays. It was a nasty bit of fake history, typical of the Kremlin’s addiction to fal sifying the historical record. Vladimir Putin had repeated the old Soviet adage that Poland was partially responsible for initiating WWII by scheming together with Nazi Germany. In addressing Russian military leaders, the State Duma, the press corps, the SRU summit and the organizing committee of Russia’s celebration of Vic tory Day’s 75th anniversary, Putin has matched his official agenda with duly customized history. The Russian ambassador to Poland was summoned to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to receive Poland’s pro test to the lies. The ambassador was told “that the Stalinist historical narrative is being constantly and aggressively implemented in the Russian historical consciousness. These totalitarian claims are contradic tory to the international obliga tions of Russia, and are a mockery of millions of victims of the Stalinist regime, which partly include the Russian people as well”. As a result of the NaziSoviet Communist MolotovRibbentrop Pact and the joint invasion of Poland, the country lost nearly six people people. It’s just not due to a casual whim of Russia’s leadership that insists on a fictional narra tive of embarrassing periods of its history. Revisionist history, Russian style, is the law. Comparing the crimes of Nazi Germany to those of the Soviet Union is forbidden, One can be arrested and convicted for “spreading intentionally false information about the Soviet Union’s activities during World War II”. It’s anathema for any body to admit any collaboration with the Third Reich. Russian authorities handle digressions from the official ‘truth’ fairly harshly. A Russian blogger in 2016 was prosecuted in court and found guilty of “re habilitating Nazism” and fined 200,000 rubles for violating a 2014 law that criminalizing anything that “desecrates sym bols of Russia’s military his tory”. The blogger had shared an item on social media stating that the Soviet Union had in
vaded Poland in collaboration with Nazi Germany in 1941. The court insisted that the blog ger had knowingly spread false information. The Russian Sup reme Court upheld the decision. Russia continues to hide the most reprehensible parts of its history, normally associated with pangs of guilt in a non- authoritarian political setting. The murder of Polish military officers at Katyn, the deporta tion and killings of thousands of non-Russians on suspicion of disloyalty, the denial of the existence of the secret protocols of the 1939 Soviet-Nazi pact, the enormity of Stalin’s crimes justified by his leadership dur ing WWII, the deliberate star vation of Ukrainians, even the large-scale purges of Russians – these and other atrocities are not to be acknowledged. In fact, by emphasizing some of them, one could be criminally liable. The 75th anniversary of the 1945 capitulation of Nazi Ger many and the end of WWII will be a major celebration for Russia, a spectacular showcase of it’s military muscle – all under the banner of the Soviet Union liberating east and cen tral Europe. This is Russia’s premium narrative – a way of saving face after the humiliation of loosing the cold war – the idea that the war for the Soviets only began in 1941 with Ger many’s invasion of the USSR, not in 1939 when the Com munists invaded Poland with the Nazis. Thus Russia’s contri bution to the war effort was that of the victim as well as the liberator. This is an integral part of the Russian national identity. The paramount importance of the 75th anniversary of the Soviet victory is bolstered by the by festivities that the Russian government is planning for May. In fact in a January 1st tweet Moscow announced that 2020 has been declared the Year of Memory and Glory in Rus sia. Reinforcing the designation was a picture of a WWII memorial appearing alongside the text. Very few in Russia deny the failures and injustices of the Putin regime – widespread poverty, the immunity to crimi nal justice enjoyed by the Putin-friendly super-rich, un controllable corruption, flagrant violation of human rights, re stricted access to regime-critical
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Photo: Tauno Mölder
Thomas Heinsoo’s remarks at the traditional consular New Year’s levee It has been forty eight years since my parents continued the tradition of the January 1st reception. Johannes Markus, Ilmar Heinsoo’s pre decessor started the tradition in 1959. The New ear’s levee was held for the first twenty years in our home. Ever since it has been held at Eesti Maja. It has been eighteen years since Laas and I have been hosting the reception. It has been forty-four years since Ilmar Heinsoo moved into Eesti Maja. Both the Consulate and Heinsoo In surance have been tenants ever since. It has been Sixty Nine years since my father started Heinsoo Insurance Brokers Ltd. All in all, I think it would be safe to say that all these mile stones have been an overnight success!
Mart Helme as seen by an Estonian Life/ Eesti Elu reader It’s no longer a surprise when a white man of a certain age and perceived self importance is heard to utter blatant racism, a homophobic rant or the most common of all the demeaning of a woman. The Estonian Parliament has such a member – Mr. Helme. Without a second thought he felt it was his due to insult the newly elected Finnish President, a young woman who has on her own merit achieved her coun try’s highest political office. Old men saying outrageous things to get attention is the voice of a small man – but this small man is a minister of the government and by his actions diminishes our government, our parliament, and our nation. Finland is our cousin nation and a resolute ally. One wonders who would benefit to divide us from our cousins. KERSTI LEPIK WOOKEY
media and other repressive measures. But the official his torical scenario of WWII is the credo of the government which aims to divert people from their everyday woes and tries to unify the country under one national istic fable. The country here and now is the past, but the dark side must be tucked into the shadows. LAAS LEIVAT
Some twenty Estonian guides, scouts, brownies, cubs and others started the new year enjoying a true Canadian pastime, skating – at Riverdale Park near Estonian House. Two years ago they skated in minus 23 degree weather. This year, minus one degree. Climate change? As in previous years hot cocoa was plentiful from Scoutmaster Enno Agur. Scouts and guides will be outdoors again at their Kotkajärve winter camp, February 15-17, and Independence Day, February 23 for flag raising and celebration at Estonian House. Photo: Enno Agur
Truth and Justice selected best film of 2019 by Estonian film journalists ERR, January 2020 Truth and Justice (Tõde ja õigus) was selected as the best film of 2019 by the Estonian Film Journalists’ Association on Friday and was presented with the Neitsi Maali bronze statue award. “Last year, the award went to The Little Comrade (Seltsimees lapse) which opened the Estonia 100 film programme, this time, suitably, it is given to Truth and Justice, which provided a powerful ending to the same program. Although the competi tion was intense, Tanel Toom’s work illustrates the achievement of a true world-class film,” said Chairman of the Estonian Association of Film Journalists Andrei Liimets. Based on the novel of the same name by Anton Hansen Tammsaare, the film has also
been shortlisted for the Inter national Feature Film category at the 92nd Academy Awards which will take place later this year. The film was shot with a budget of €2.5 million, took 18 months to film, and was direct ed by Tanel Toom. The film proved popular with Estonian audiences when it was released, setting a new postreindependence opening week end box office record, accord ing to film production company Allfilm. In total 51,239 people saw Truth and Justice in cine mas over its opening weekend. The Neitsi Maali award has been presented for the last 27 years and the winner is also given a €2,000 cash prize. The Estonian Film Journalists ‘Association has been operating since 1993.
Upcoming Independence Day celebration The Toronto Estonian Society wishes to announce the Esto nian Independence Day Cere mony to be held on Sunday, February 23, 2020. following the joint ecumenical church service beginning at 11:00 AM at the Toronto Estonian Baptist Church. The formal flag-raising ceremo ny will be held on the front lawn of the Toronto Estonian House around 12:15 PM. The Formal Celebration com memorating the 102st anniversary of Estonia’s indepen dence will be held at the Estonian House Grand Hall. The doors open at 12:30 and the program will begin at 1:00 PM. The luncheon will consist of schnitzel, sauerkraut, pota toes, salad, kringel, coffee and hot dogs for the children. Musical entertainment will be provided by the Toronto Estonian Men’s Choir and Kõla Orchestra. There will be am ple opportunity for everybody to sing along – a true celebra tion for families and friends! Tickets will cost $40 for adults, $25 for students, and $10 for children 12 & younger. Tickets can be purchased from Epp Aruja at epp.aruja@sympatico.ca or by phone 416-4478958. The deadline for ticket sales is Feb 15. This event will be free for all Estonian war veterans cour tesy of Fraternity Estica. If you are a veteran, please identify yourself as a war veteran when you register so that we can honour your presence. We look forward to seeing everyone celebrating and en joying this special occasion together. Long Live the Republic of Estonia!
