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called fabrication of history. Its message follows the views of Nashi and other
well-known “history experts” approved by the Kremlin. 108
On 15 May 2013, a conference, For Courage and Military Prowess, was held at
the Lindakivi Cultural Centre. The event was organized by the non-profit youth
organization, Young Word, with the support of the Russian embassy in Estonia
and the blessing of the head of the Estonian orthodox church, within the
framework of the programme of the Youth Committee in Preparation for Victory
Day in Estonia. The main objective of the conference was to educate the youth
population of Estonia about Russian awards and the Soviet Order of Glory, as
well as awards for personal bravery and courage on the battlefield. 109
In previous years, young Russian compatriots had had an opportunity to attend
the Seliger camps. 110 Seliger Youth Educational Forums or camps have been
organized by the Nashi Youth Movement at Lake Seliger in Tver Oblast near the
city of Ostashkov (370 km from Moscow) since 2005. 111 In 2017 Russia plans to
hold an International Festival of Youth and Students. The Soviet Union held such
events twice, each time to powerful propaganda effect: in 1957 when the Soviet
leadership slightly lifted the Iron Curtain for the first time; and in 1985 when it
held the first high-profile international publicity campaign for Perestroika. 112
3.4 The Russian Authorities’ Connections
with Political Parties in Estonia
Russia’s attention has been primarily focused on organizations that can be used
to influence Estonian politics. Unfortunately, the political community in Estonia
partly reflects the continuing linguistic divide in other areas of Estonian society.
Formally, all the mainstream political parties in Estonia are multi-ethnic. Until
recently, only one, Keskerakond (the Centre Party), has actively campaigned in
the Russian language and featured mainly Russian-speaking candidates. At the
same time, however, many smaller parties have campaigned on the basis of a
“Russian identity”.
108 Kiilo, Tatjana (2011): Developments in Russia's Compatriot Policy, [Arengud Venemaa
Föderatsiooni Kaasmaalaste Poliitikas], ABVKeskus 2011/1, pp. 13–14
109 See The Conference of the Molodoe Slovo in Tallinn: “For courage and military valor”,
[Konferentsiya «Molodogo slova» v Talline: «Za khrabrost i voinskuyu doblest»],Baltija, May
2013, available at: http://baltija.eu/news/read/31268.
110 Official website Forum Seliger, available at: http://www.forumseliger.ru.
111 Forum Seliger (2012): Putin visited Seliger, [Putin posetil Seliger 2012], available at:
http://www.forumseliger.ru/pressCenter/record/1454>http://www.forumseliger.ru/pressCenter/reco
rd/1454.
112 Charnenko E. (2013): From the Position of the Soft Power [S Pozitsii Myagkoy Sily],
Kommersant, January, available at: http://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2105575.
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