Russian authorities requested a meeting with representatives of the Estonian police to demand that they remove a poster placed on the Narva fortress by the Estonian-Russian border calling the Russian president Vladimir Putin a war criminal, the regional newspaper Põhjarannik writes.
The head of the Narva police station, Indrek Püvi, said that representatives of the border guards of Estonia and Russia met on the Narva border bridge at 10 AM on Tuesday.
“Today’s unplanned meeting was initiated by the Russian side. Among other things, the poster installed on the wall of Narva Museum was discussed, the removal of which the Russian representatives demanded from our border guards,” Püvi said.
The officials of the Police and Border Guard Board told the Russian representatives that such a poster is not prohibited in Estonia, they base their work on Estonian laws, and Russian officials have no reason to demand the removal of the poster.
On Tuesday morning, Narva Museum placed a giant poster with the words “Putin war criminal” on the fortress wall, which is clearly visible across the river to Russia.
Across the river in Ivangorod, Russia is planning a grand 9 May celebration on Tuesday. The concert stage and large screens have been placed near the Friendship Bridge in such a way that they are clearly visible on the Estonian side.
Should people participating in the celebrations in Ivangorod turn their eyes towards Estonia, they will see a poster declaring Putin a war criminal. Those from Narva who plan to come to see this concert from the Estonian side of the river should also notice it.
Narva is located at the eastern extreme point of Estonia, on the west bank of the Narva River which forms the Estonian–Russian international border. With over 54,000 inhabitants, Narva is Estonia’s third largest town, after Tallinn and Tartu. Narva is a predominantly Russian-speaking town.
