Russia stages Victory Day concert facing Estonian border town

Narva, May 09, 2025 -Russia threw on Friday a Victory Day concert facing the Estonian border town of Narva, an overwhelmingly Russian-speaking community that has become a focal point in tensions with the West.The Kremlin is using its commemorations marking 80 years since the end of World War II to whip up patriotism at home and project strength abroad as its troops fight in Ukraine.Since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Russia has put on patriotic concerts for the anniversary on a stage facing Narva -- a town of 56,000 people of which 96 percent are Russian speakers.An AFP journalist reported seeing on Friday large screens, pictures of Soviet soldiers and banners bearing the slogans "We remember!" and "Thank you!" installed across the river dividing the EU and NATO member from Russia.On the fortress on the Estonian side, Estonian, EU, and Ukrainian flags were hung along a poster depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and branding him a "war criminal".A rival concert was also organised at a central square in Narva."I'm interested to see two (concerts)," Sandra Supinina, a 21-year-old student, said in Narva, but added that she would "probably" watch the Russian artists."They did their best, the Russian side," she told AFP. Anatoly Fedoryuk, 31, planned to attend both events. "I am Estonian, I was born and grew up here, but of course Russian traditions are still in my blood," he said in Russian. When Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union, about a third of its population was Russian-speaking, including families who had emigrated from other Soviet republics.Last month, Estonia's president signed into law a constitutional amendment banning non-EU citizens from taking part in local elections, a move targeting the Russian minority.Nearly 80,000 Russian citizens currently hold a residence permit in the former Soviet republic of 1.3 million people, which regained its independence in 1991.