On Tuesday afternoon, two men raised the ESSR flag on the wall of the Tallinn Writers' House. The men were Riigikogu member Jaak Valge and poet Andres Aule.
The police were notified at 1:50 PM that the flag of the Estonian SSR was hanging on the Writers' Union building. The police determined that the flag belonged to a 70-year-old man. He was accompanied by a 63-year-old man. The police took the flag into custody and are deciding whether to initiate proceedings.
Jaak Valge said that they installed the flag on the Writers' House together with Andres Aule. Valge explained that July 22 is celebrated as Collaboration Day. He said that Juhan Smuul is prominently displayed as a collaborator and deportee memorial.
Valge and Aule presented their book about Juhan Smuul. Valge said that the flag was supposed to be on the building for only half an hour. However, the police arrived before they could take it down. The police took the flag into custody and will return it on August 21.
Last year, Valge and Aule also raised the ESSR flag on the Writers' House. At that time, the police fined them 160 euros. Later, the Harju County Court overturned the fine.