Denis Larchenko News Today

Opposition parties in the eastern city of Narva are to decide next week whether to take the state to court over the removal and relocation of a Soviet-era tank, used as a war memorial and which had been in place just outside the town. Before making the decision, the city's government has been summonsed to a meeting with the prime minister, in Tallinn, while an additional issue is the use of the Russian language at city council sessions.

Ethnic Estonians and Russian-speakers differ over the war in Ukraine, prompting government fears over integration.

Junior partner Eesti 200 announced on Thursday afternoon its withdrawal from Narva's ruling coalition over the handling of the removal of the Soviet tank monument. A new coalition will now need to form.

Center Party chairman Jüri Ratas has told Tatjana Stolfat, head of the Center group on Narva City Council, that the Soviet tank monument on the bank of the Narva River is not fit for the public space and must be removed in cooperation with the Estonian government.

Removal of a controversial monument just outside the eastern city of Narva will go ahead at the behest of the local, rather than the national, government.

Almost 3,000 residents of Narva want to put the future of its Soviet-era tank monument to a vote. After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, similar statues have started to be relocated across Estonia.

Former Rigiikogu MP Katri Raik's election alliance and non-parliamentary party Eesti 200 on Friday signed an agreement to start coalition talks in the eastern border town of Narva.

Combating corruption and a lack of transparency in Narva, particularly as €340-million in European Union money is due to reach the city in support of its transitioning away from dependence on the oil shale sector, were topics in focus at a recent panel discussion featuring candidates running in the local elections in the eastern border town on October 17.