"There is no need again to present the long-known Russian view of Estonia incorporated in the USSR and the years that followed. The same concerns related material claims on Russia and attempts to force it into bringing apologies. All these are losing attempts," ministerial PR resolutely say.
As their commentary points out, "the Russo-Estonian treaty on Russian Armed Forces pullout from Estonia, Clause 8, regards all financial, property and other related claims completely and finally settled.
"Naturally, Russia approves unbiased historical research on the past events. That must be genuine unbiased research, which presupposes no historical periods brought forestage to oust the study of others into the background. The research must make due account of all facts and the international law acting at particular time." Below, we are offering a chronicle of Estonia's Soviet history and its precedents.
August 23, 1939. The Soviet Union and Germany conclude a non-aggression pact, with plans of dividing Europe, on which Estonia was within the Soviet influence zone.
September 28, 1939. World War II has just broken out. The Soviet Union and Estonia sign a mutual assistance treaty, on which Estonia pledges to provide stationing for Soviet Air Force bases and garrisons, 20 to 30 thousand strong, while the Soviet Union guarantees non-intervention in the host country's domestic affairs.
June 14 and 16, 1940. Vyacheslav Molotov, USSR Foreign Minister, faces each of the three involved Baltic countries-Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia-with consecutive ultimatums to demand an urgent change of government and consent to Soviet garrisons reinforced.
The Soviet Union did not care to wait for formal consent and puppet government formation. Its troops invaded the three Baltic countries, June 17.
Estonia appointed a parliamentary election for July 14. Actual power belonged to the Toilers' League-a coalition of Communists and their fellow travellers. With Communists alone represented on election commissions, they annulled all non-Communist nominations. Mass arrests swept the opposition a few days before the poll.
July 21, 1940. Toilers' League parliamentarians adopt a declaration requesting the Soviet Union to accept Estonia as its constituent republic.
August 6, 1940. The USSR Supreme Soviet (parliament) approves the application to proclaim Estonia a republic within the Soviet Union.
German military occupation of Estonia lasted from July 1941 into September 1944.
Estonia was a Soviet constituent republic up to September 1991, when Moscow officially recognised its independence alongside Latvian and Lithuanian.
