Russian hypocrisy and heavy-handedness towards a former colony

CLUMSINESS on one hand, unprecedented bullying on the other. That is the story of Russia’s reaction to Estonia’s decision to move a Soviet-era war memorial and 12 unmarked graves from a prominent position in the capital, Tallinn, to its international military cemetery.

Handled better, the move might have ruffled fewer feathers. But Estonia’s prime minister, Andrus Ansip, first raised the issue for party advantage. He wanted his Reform party, founded by zealously free-market ex-communists, to pinch some patriotic votes from other centre-right parties in the March parliamentary elections. His country is now paying a colossal political, social and diplomatic price.

This story was from the Economist print edition. Read the rest here from where I grabbed it.

PS Economist news articles are copyright blah blah etc etc