The police seizure of a memorial plaque depicting an Estonian Nazi is illegal as it occurred during transport and not during a public demonstration, sworn lawyer Karri Ginther said, Estonian state broadcaster ERR reported on September 3.
“The possession and transportation of symbols is in compliance with the law. I can thus freely transport at least a tonne of swastikas and five-pointed stars in my car. It appears that the courier used the symbols in a neutral way, simply by transporting them. Therefore, there is no need to carry out an examination of the symbols, as no offence has been committed.”said Ginther.
The lawyer accused the Minister of the Interior, Lauri Läänemets, and the operational head of Lääne (west – approx.IA Krasnaya Vesna) Yllara Kütt prefecture on a misinterpretation of the law on “symbols of aggression”. Ginther said it was unclear how the police determined that the seized slab was used to justify the assault.
Recall that on August 31, Estonian police stopped a car carrying a copy of a monument to local Nazis who fought against the USSR, demolished 20 years ago, to an event organized by its modern admirers. Police said this was done under a law banning the display of “symbols justifying aggression.”
We also note that Estonian border guards confiscate items from people entering the republic every week, which they believe fall within the scope of this law. Most often, Guard (St. George) ribbons are confiscated, and once it was reported that a Soviet cup holder found in a tourist’s luggage was taken away.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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