MOSCOW, Aug 23 (AFP) - Russia Monday condemned the erection in a small Estonian town of a controversial monument to Estonian soldiers who fought alongside German Nazis during World War II, branding it a "disgraceful act."
"The monument's inauguration ... is a disgraceful act that insults the memory of the victims of fascism in all the countries in the world," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
"It is not a secret to anybody, including in Estonia, that we are in reality dealing with the glorification process of legionaries at the 20th Estonian SS division, which is openly seeking to increase its numbers in this country," the ministry added.
The monument, which represents an Estonian soldier clad in a German uniform and bears the inscription "To Estonian men, who fought against bolshevism and for Estonian independence in 1940-1944," drew harsh criticism after it was inaugurated Friday in the small Estonian town of Lihula.
"We have to honor men who fought for independence, but we shouldn't praise the uniform symbolizing totalitarian ideology," Prime Minister Juhan Parts had said.
Estonian police said it had launched an investigation Thursday.
The monument had already been erected in Estonia's western city of Parnu two years ago but had been removed after then-prime minister Siim Kallas had said it would harm Estonia's international relations.