Youth Group Proposes State Decoration for Yeltsin
The youth organization Open Republic sent an appeal to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves proposing that he posthumously bestow the nation's highest award for foreigners on the late Russian President Boris Yeltsin for the latter's contribution to Estonian independence.
"We made this proposal today, August 24, 2011, on the 20th anniversary of Boris Yeltsin's decree recognizing the independence of the Republic of Estonia," the organization's chairman Jevgeni Krishtafovitsh said in a statement.
The group said it is asking that Yeltsin be considered for the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, citing his role in securing the 1994 withdrawal of occupying military forces from Estonia as well as his efforts to establish democratic institutions in post-communist Russia and promote democratic values worldwide.
The Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana is normally bestowed on Estonian heads of state, but is also given as the decoration of highest class to foreigners who have rendered special services to the country.
Based in Tallinn, Open Republic is a voluntary non-political youth organization with more than 1,600 members around Estonia.
Steve Roman