Whether consciously or otherwise, Russia tries to impose on its neighbours its own mono-dimensional view of history. According to this view, Russia was only the victim in WW2, and never, never, never the victimiser. But reality is always more complex. Russia’s neighbours do not and never have denied that Russia was a victim. Russia, for reasons of its own, is in denial of this fact which all the rest of the world accepts and acknowledges. As an example, Russian media discusses incidents like the number-plate that is the subject of the above article, but does not analyse past and present Russian behaviour that eventually makes that kind of reaction not only possible, but inevitable, and which prevents wounds from the past from healing.

The worst thing we have done in recent years is to accept the Baltic countries (and Poland) in the European Union. They are against everything Europe stands for. Mentally they are still in the thirties of the last century. What they really are in terms of education and economic development is thanks to aid from the Soviet Union. After having sucked their Eastern neighbour to near death, they repeat the same trick on Western Europe now, squeezing every Euro out of Brussels, at the same time spitting us in the face with a fascistoid behaviour which is unworthy of European values. It seems that their politicians were recruited from obscure universities in the U.S. and Canada, which means they fled the country in 1944 when their German protectors were loosing their Blitzkrieg. We are really in good copany there. Poor Europe!

i will not get in to the issue of historical views. but this is a discrace 30% of the population is being descriminated againsed thats not a good way to run a country. Trust me this will not be taken lightly by the Russian population living every where around the world. i know we have our fare share of nationalist activities in Russia but we do not discriminate at 30 % of the population.

I do understand that some in the Baltic states feel they were victimised by the Soviet Union and that Russians tend to gloss over this - but these people also seem to gloss over issues that are inconvenient to them. They seem to have forgotten that many Russians and other Slavs were present in the Baltics during the time of the Russian Empire - the didn't all arrive in 1940. They also seem to have forgotten the ernormous number of people killed by the Nazis in WWII. Many in the Baltic states also seem to have misunderstood how much the Nazis were (and still are) hated in Western Europe - even in Germany, where I live. Perhaps they should read something of the history of WWII as experienced in France, Belgium, Netherlands and the UK. As a member of the EU, the Estonian government has an obligation to ensure that the rights of ALL its citizens are upheld - these include freedom of expression, language, religion, etc. - like citizens of Russian origin. These rights are fundamental to the EU and are not negotiable - something that those countries living on EU funds should remember.

So Marzipan6, if it rains in Talinn, it's Russia's fault, if it doesn't rain in Talinn, it's Russia's fault... I beg you not to leave the RT's forums. It wouldn't have that much fun without you. This time you are completely out of the subject. The subject is NOT history, the subject is not the past, the subject is the present. Latvian extremists call the people to inform the police of cars with Russian or Soviet flags. And then what the police should do to the owners? Torture them? Kill them? Have them fired from their jobs? If this is Latvia's democracy, I wonder why do they left the Soviet Union... Dear JG, you completely misunderstood the situation in Baltics. These people collaborated WILLINGLY with the Nazis, wellcomed the German army as liberators (imagine cheering in the streets, flowers and kisses etc...) and especially the Estonians (the worst of them all) formed a Waffen SS division and also guarded THEMSELVES two "nice" Jews concentration camps in their "beautiful" nazi-country... So, what human rights are you talking about? These people are Nazis! EU is a Monica-Lewinsky of NATO and Estonia is important for NATO's anti-Russian campaign. So EU will close eyes to every human rights violation in Estonia especially if the victims are Russians.

Just proves the Nazis are alive and well in the Baltic states. What is next? Legislation to force the car owners to replace the Russian/Soviet flags with little yellow stars?