Police to restrict traffic on Tallinn's Filtri tee on May 9

The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) will be restricting traffic on Filtri tee, in central Tallinn, on Sunday, May 8 and Monday, May 9, amid heightened tensions over this year's 'Victory Day'.
The road closure runs between Tallinn Bus Station and Veskiposti tänav and only public transport and local residents will be able to access that stretch of Filtri tee.
Speaking at Wednesday's Tallinn city government press conference, Roger Kumm, chief of the PPA's Ida-Harju Police Station, said that officers will be out in greater numbers than usual, in connection with May 9.
He noted that as the day usually sees increased numbers of people moving along Filtri tee in the vicinity of the Defense Forces Cemetery of Tallinn, this has also entailed certain risks each year as well.
"Therefore we have restricted traffic on the section of Filtri tee from the bus station to Veskiposti tänav," Kumm said.
The road will remain closed from 9 a.m. through 11 p.m. on May 8 and 9.
Public transport is still running on Filtri tee, and the Veskiposti stop on the same street will be served by . Bus routes 16 and 17A, Tallinn City Government says.
According to the police official, in previous years, visitors to the Defense Forces Cemetery and the Bronze Soldier memorial located there tended to park their cars on the grass on the other side of Filtri tee, which is a total of six lanes wide there, and then cross it on foot, thus endangering both themselves and fellow road users.
The security company already guarding the area will likewise be out in greater numbers next Monday.
Public meetings inciting hatred banned across Estonia
In connection with the approach of May 9, celebrated in Russia and other communities abroad as "Victory Day" and marking the end of World War Two, on April 27 the PPA expanded a previously announced ban on public meetings that may incite hatred and involve displaying symbols of aggression to include the entire country.
The nationwide ban is initially slated to remain in force through May 10, but may be extended as necessary, as the display of hostile symbols isn't acceptable in public spaces in Estonia at any other time either, the PPA said last week.
Kumm noted that police are monitoring the use of such symbols throughout the city and intervening quickly when spotted.
Among symbols and items banned from display are the flags of the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation, Ribbons of St. George and Soviet military uniforms.
This article was updated to include information on public transport on May 8 and 9.
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Editor: Aili Vahtla, Andrew Whyte