Seven former mayors of Viljandi condemn the decision of the current city authorities to remove the flags of Ukraine from the town hall building.
Seven former mayors of Viljandi condemn the decision of the current city authorities to remove the flags of Ukraine from the town hall building.
"Symbols have immense moral value. Their significance especially increases in serious crisis situations, when the fate of people or even entire nations is at stake. The Estonian people, including the residents of Viljandi, have supported the Ukrainian state and its people both in words and deeds since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation. We do this because our historical experience allows us to clearly understand what the Ukrainian people are facing and what sacrifices this resistance to injustice requires," write Johan-Kristjan Konovalov, Madis Timpson, Ando Kiviberg, Loit Kivistik, Kalle Jents, Peep Aru, and Andres Soosaar, who have held the position of mayor of Viljandi at different times.
"Raising the national flag of a people fighting for their freedom in the public space of Estonia has become a message to the victim of aggression: we are with you and will be with you for as long as it takes. As former mayors of Viljandi, we are puzzled by the decision of the current city council and Mayor Jaak Pihlak to remove the flags of Ukraine from the town hall, which were displayed in solidarity with the warring Ukrainian state and people," the ex-mayors continued.
"Such an act sends a completely wrong signal, as if the residents of Viljandi have decided to abandon their support for Ukraine, freedom, and the right of nations to self-determination.
Supporting the Ukrainian state, which has become a victim of Russia's full-scale aggression, including the sister city of Viljandi – Ternopil, is a sacred duty of our people, who have also suffered from Russian occupation and oppression in their history. Viljandi has provided this support by repeatedly sending humanitarian aid and strengthening friendly ties. However, moral support and the signals we send are equally important. Unfortunately, the removal of the Ukrainian flags indicates that Viljandi's support is weakening, and there are disagreements regarding assistance," the statement reads.
"Since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian flag in the free world symbolizes not only one state but, in a broader sense, support for freedom and the right to national self-determination. The decision of the Viljandi authorities to remove this symbol from the town hall before a peace acceptable to the Ukrainian people is reached is shameful and unworthy of both the city itself and its leaders," the former mayors write.
"In democratic countries, it is not customary to gain domestic political points at the expense of international relations and security policy. The current removal of the flags of Ukraine, which were displayed on the Viljandi town hall as an act of solidarity at the beginning of the full-scale war, is an extremely regrettable, shortsighted, and very dangerous signal for both the city of Viljandi and Estonia as a whole. Unfortunately, this step has already been noticed beyond Estonia, and it can only please the aggressor," the statement concludes.
"We call on the city council and the mayor of Viljandi to immediately return the symbols removed from the town hall and express unequivocal support for Ukraine's liberation struggle," note the seven former mayors.
