1941 Deportations Remembered
One of the single most fateful days in Estonian history will be commemorated across the country today.
On June 14, 1941, Soviet occupation forces deported over 10,000 people to Siberia in the first wave of several directly targeting the civilian population.
Memorial events will be held by the Linda statue in Tallinn, attended by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves - who will speak at 15:00 - MPs, cabinet ministers and foreign diplomats.
Lutheran Church archbishop Andres Põder will lead a prayer, which will be followed by an address by former dissident, Enn Tarto, who is the chairman of Memento, an organization representing victims of political persecution.
Wreaths will be laid by senior officials, including the president, speaker of Parliament, prime minister, and the Defence Forces and Defense League chiefs.
A memorial service will be held at 16:00 in St. John's Church in Tallinn, and an event for family members and surviving deportees will be held at the Museum of Occupations.
At the initiative of Memento, moments of silence will be observed throughout Estonia.
Kristopher Rikken
