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Writer's pictureDiana Kovtun

Empire Strikes Back. 15 May 1990, Toompead rünnatakse!

In the late 80s, the Soviet Union, challenged by economic stagnation and the Perestroika policies, was gradually losing control over the territories it annexed earlier. The independence movements emerged across the Union's republics, facilitating the separation agenda and, in the case of the Baltic States, the restoration of sovereignty. Needless to say, one does not expect an empire to collapse overnight. The Soviets tried their best to compromise the integrity of the independence movements and even organized their own "fan clubs" as a response. It took years for the Union to meet its end. Let's briefly discuss the events that helped Estonia restore its independence.  


The active resistance phase started shortly after the Soviet Union annexed Estonia in 1940. The way Soviet authorities and their sympathizers tried to eradicate the national elite of Estonia pushed thousands to become guerilla fighters. The "Forest Brothers" movement became the pinnacle of armed resistance against the Soviet regime, but after several ways of violent deportations, state-enforced collectivization, and countless raids organized by the KGB, the movement had to transform and eventually blended in with the cultural resistance in the 60-70s. (1)


Probably the most heartbreaking episode, associated with active resistance, dates back to 1944. In late September 1944, German forces were withdrawing from Estonia, while the Soviet troops had not yet reached the capital. That's when Otto Tief's government orchestrated an unsuccessful attempt to restore Estonia's independence. For two days, the national flag of Estonia was raised above the Tall Herman Tower, symbolizing the aspiration of the Estonian people to regain sovereignty.


Unfortunately, the Soviets had different plans, and the most significant outcome of this attempt was forming the Estonian government in exile (2)


For many years of the Soviet hegemony in Estonia, symbols of the independent republic were prohibited, while the new ideologically appropriate symbols were placed in all public spaces. Soviet censorship strictly enforced the prohibition by monitoring the works of art and, in many cases, destroying the remnants of the independence period, especially monuments.


Only with the Singing Revolution did the Estonian tricolour return to Tall Herman.


Estonian flags displayed during a song festival in 1988 (Flag)

The term "Singing Revolution" describes the period of cultural and political resistance of the Baltic States against the Soviet centralized power between 1986 and 1991.


Numerous events took place during this revolution, including the formation of national resistance movements, the unilateral adoption of legislation limiting the Soviet authority in the Republics, and multiple public demonstrations (3).


The most remarkable event attributed to this period is the Baltic Way (Baltic Chain//Balti kett) in 1989. A human chain that connected three Baltic capitals on the anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact signing manifested the formidable unity of the Baltic people and their decisive willingness to regain independence (4).


The Baltic Chain participants with Estonian flags 1989 (Kett)

The collapse of the Soviet Union was just around the corner, and it was time for Estonians to act. In 1988, Karl Vaino, head of the Estonian Communist Party famous for his conservative views, was replaced by Vaino Väljas, who acted to defend the interests of Estonian Independence supporters (5). Legislation aimed at restoring independence, such as the reinstallment of the Estonian tricolor in 1988, motivated the Soviet administration in Moscow to swiftly create a movement that would oppose the aspirations of Estonian sovereignty. That's how the International Movement of Soviet Estonian Workers (a.k.a. Intermovement) emerged as a tool for dividing the society within Estonia, utilizing ideological and ethnic differences (ibid). 


The Intermovement demonstration in 1988 (Intermovement)

In the spring of 1990, the Soviet monopoly of political power in Estonia was falling apart, and the Popular Front, alongside the Estonian National Independence Party and the Estonian Heritage Society, became the consolidation points for the independence supporters. In early May, several laws were introduced to bring Estonian independence closer.


On May 8, the Soviet name of the state was abolished, while the symbolism of the interwar period was officially readopted (law). The same act also revitalized Estonia's interwar constitution, nominally cutting ties with the USSR and making it an independent state. That's when the Intermovement decided to strike. 


On May 15, 1990, members of Intermovement organized an anti-independence demonstration in Tallinn. The protesters broke through the central gates of Toompea Castle, Estonia's historical seat of power, and sieged the castle, seriously threatening the pro-independence politicians positioned inside.


Once the situation escalated, Estonian Prime Minister Edgar Savisaar went on the radio for a one-minute message and called on all the independence supporters to help protect the parliament.

"Toompead rünnatakse! Ma kordan, Toompead rünnatakse!"

Within the next hour, thousands of independence supporters filled the square of Toompea. Peacefully, they demanded that pro-Soviet protestors leave the Parliament.

The grand exist of pro-soviet forces from Toompea

Estonians and supporters of freedom managed to disperse the protestors within several hours. As a result of victory, the crowd held hands and started to sing.

photo by Jaan Künnap

The spirit and actions demonstrated that the Estonian population was ready to actively take part in regaining sovereignty and defending it from any threat. (6)

photo by Jaan Künnap

Waving the national flag as a sign of victory (Toompea 2)

Redesigned Parliament plate of Toompea castle

There's a short video on YouTube taken from a movie about the Singing Revolution that delivers the moment way better than any possible text!


Our team want to conclude the story with the wise words of Lennart Merit, the second president of the Republic of Estonia:

Riik sünnib vaid korra, kuid vabadus peab taassündima iga paev!

Translation: "A state can be born only once, but liberty must be reborn every day"


Long live the Republic of Estonia!


References:

(1) Estonian Institute of Historical Memory (2021) RESISTANCE TO THE SOVIET REGIME IN ESTONIA 1940-1991. Retrieved from: https://vastupanu.communistcrimes.org/en/

(2) EWR (2006) 22 September 1944: The Otto Tief government and the fall of Tallinn. Retrieved from: https://www.eesti.ca/22-september-1944-the-otto-tief-government-and-the-fall-of-tallinn/article14235

(3) Zunes, S. of ICNC (2009) Estonia's Singing Revolution (1986-1991). Retrieved from: https://www.nonviolent-conflict.org/estonias-singing-revolution-1986-1991/

(4) Helen Wright and Silver Tambur (2021) The Baltic Way – the longest unbroken human chain in history. Retrieved from: https://estonianworld.com/life/estonia-commemorates-30-years-since-the-baltic-way-the-longest-unbroken-human-chain-in-history/

(5) Estonian World (2023) Estonia celebrates the restoration of independence. Retrieved from: https://estonianworld.com/life/estonia-celebrates-the-day-of-restoration-of-independence/

(6) Collins, M. (1990) Crowds attack Estonian, Latvian Parliaments Retrieved from: https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/15/Crowds-attack-Estonian-Latvian-Parliaments/9446642744000/

Other sources

(law) 8 May 1990. Regarding the State symbolism of the Republic of Estonia. retrieved from: https://web.archive.org/web/20190906230101/http://estonia.news-city.info/docs/sistemsf/dok_ierskz.htm

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