ninme

Bush made a big deal in his speech today about the Baltic States acting as a model and inspiration to others. I think he meant in democratic terms, but evidently they’re doing just as good a job inspiring others to beat up on Russia too.

BBC – Russia ‘mocking’ WWII ceremonies

Russian plans to mark 60 years since the end of World War II will make a mockery of the occasion, world leaders have been warned.

A group of politicians, academics and human rights campaigners have signed an open letter attacking Russia’s record on democracy and political freedom.

They say official ceremonies to be held in Moscow undermine the memory of those who fought and died in the war.

Signatories include ex-Czech President Vaclav Havel and former US ambassadors.

Moscow has also upset neighbours Georgia, Estonia and Lithuania, who all plan to boycott Monday’s ceremonies.

Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is staying away because Russia and Georgia have failed to agree on a timetable for closing Soviet-era bases in his country.

In a separate row, Estonia and Lithuania are boycotting the ceremonies because they say their liberation from the Nazis marked the start of Soviet occupation.

Latvia will send dignitaries – but along with Estonia and Lithuania it wants Russia to apologise for the Baltic states’ annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940.

Russia sees itself as the main power which helped bring freedom to Europe, defeating the Nazis at an enormous human cost – 30m Soviet lives were lost…

In the letter, to be published in full in the UK’s Financial Times newspaper to coincide with the 9 May ceremonies, signatories accuse Russia of betraying the principles behind victory in 1945.

They write: “[We] believe the venue and hosting of this event are altogether unsuited to the fundamental principles for which that historic victory… was achieved.”

More on the feisty festivities here, here, here, and here.