As a result of the first multi-party candidate general election in Estonia since the Soviet occupation, in March , the Popular Front had the largest number of representatives in the Supreme Soviet of Soviet Estonia and Edgar Savisaar was appointed the Chairman of the Council of Ministers. The two trends came together in spring , when the Estonian Supreme Soviet declared the authority of the Soviet Union in Estonia illegal.
A transition period was announced, which in cooperation with the Estonian Congress, would lead to the restoration of the Republic of Estonia. However, independence had not yet been achieved. The Soviet Union still considered Estonia and the other Baltic republics to be Union republics, subordinated to Moscow — and was prepared to use extreme force to maintain its power, as seen in the violent events in January in Vilnius and Riga.
In both capitals, Soviet special troops tried to seize the media centres controlled by the Lithuanian and Latvian national forces, respectively, and dozens of people were killed. Estonia was spared violent deaths, but only just.
On 19 May , a group of members of the OMON — a special militia unit of the Soviet Union — attacked the border checkpoint in Luhamaa, on the Estonia-Russia border, destroying its furnishing.
On 8 June, they attacked the same installation again, this time also destroying the bus used by the Estonian border control. Luckily, no Estonian border guards was killed.
An important role in solidarity was the support of the central Soviet Union republic, the Russian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic, for the Baltic states. Russia itself, led by Boris Yeltsin, declared its sovereignty on 12 June and thereafter limited the application of Soviet laws, in particular the laws concerning finance and the economy, on Russian territory.
Moscow planned a referendum to preserve the Soviet Union. However, the Estonian authorities refused to take part.
On 19 August , eight Soviet hardliners, including the head of the KGB, made an attempt to take control of the country from Mikhail Gorbachev, who was on holiday in his dacha in Crimea. Gorbachev was placed under house arrest, the hardliners announced a state of emergency and tanks were rolled on the streets of Moscow.
Under the pressure, the different political powers in Estonia managed to reach consensus — on the evening of 19 August, the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Estonia and the delegation of the Estonian Committee the executive organ of the Estonian Congress began talks about declaring Estonian independence.
The main issue of dispute was the choice between two options — whether to declare a new independent Republic of Estonia or, on the basis of legal continuity, restore the previous Republic of Estonia that was declared in and occupied by the Soviet Union in At In addition, a Constitutional Assembly was formed to work out the draft bill for a new constitution of the Republic of Estonia.
Another nerve-racking day followed. However, the national radio remained free and continued to broadcast news about events in Estonia. On 22 August, Iceland became the first country to establish diplomatic relations with the Republic of Estonia, followed by Lithuania, Latvia and Russia.
France was the first major Western power to recognise the Estonian independence, on 30 August. The Soviet Union essentially ceased to exist and on 26 December , it was officially dissolved. Excellent article.
Living in Australia, my Estonian heritage is important to me, and my children and grandchildren. Happy Independence Day and thoughts of the many who fought so hard to obtain it. May it stay so forever. My wife tells me that the TV tower was kept broadcasting due to the people inside sealing off the access to the studios doors designed to protect such an assault and the Soviet troops gave up and discovered a bar in the building to declare war on instead.
Is this the case? On the top floor of the Toompea Castle, a radio communications center started operations on July 10, , in a room next to the attic. This made it possible to communicate with foreign countries, international organizations e. The technology also facilitated the establishment of direct contact immediately with the opposing side. Under the roof of the castle, we established an entire field of antennas in order to use different radio frequencies while none of the antennas was visible from the outside.
Most complicated was maintenance of communications with the counties. Modern Flag of Estonia. Recognition United States Recognition of Estonia, Diplomatic Relations Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, American Legation established at Tallinn, General Laidoner as commander-in-chief of the army on March 12, Prime Minister Paets dissolved the parliament on October 2, A new constitution was approved in a referendum in February Parliamentary elections were held in September , and the National Assembly convened on February 18, A new constitution was approved by the National Assembly on July 29, , and the constitution went into effect on January 1, The State Assembly convened on April 21, The government approved a one-year extension of martial law on September 10, Estonian and Russian representatives signed a mutual assistance agreement on September 28, , and the agreement was ratified by Estonia on October 2, Some 25, Soviet troops were deployed at military bases in Estonia beginning on October 18, Territory known as Estonia and Latvia then became Medieval Livonia - a loosely tied group of small states included in the German ecclesiastical states of the Holy Roman Empire.
If today you were to take a walk in Tallinn Old Town and look up you will see what used to be salt, tea and flour warehouses equipped with attic doors and hooks once used to pull up the cargo. Soon enough the country's thriving medieval economy caught the attention of the neighbouring kingdoms looking to expand their geographical influence, and by the 18th century, Estonia had been governed by the king of Denmark, Sweden and the Russian tsar.
This time also saw the founding of University of Tartu by the Swedish king Gustav II Adolf, an institution that later played an important part in Estonia's national awakening, as here is where the blue, black and white tricolour was consecrated, becoming the official flag of the independent Republic of Estonia in The Republic of Estonia has been an independent state since , shortly interrupted by the half a century long Soviet occupation following the World War II.
Estonia restored its independence in , known as The Singing Revolution that was inspired by the more than century-old song festival tradition. Today's Estonia is a thriving and forward-looking member state of EU and NATO, where you can vote online and start your own business in less than half an hour.
Many have done so already, including the founders of Skype and Wise. Visitors to Estonia can enjoy new-Nordic cuisine, wooden saunas and a diverse landscape of classical music. Here are the top six recreational activities that can be enjoyed in Estonia that really get you face to face with nature. This website uses cookies.
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