Victory Day in Estonia: Prime Minister calls life in the USSR a deprivation of liberty

Kaja Kallas, in a speech to mark the local Victory Day, called life in the Estonian SSR a deprivation of freedom

“As a people we know what deprivation of liberty is. I too was born in Estonia, where life was ruled by foreign bans and orders. This year we are celebrating 30 years of restored independence. During this time, new generations have grown up who were born in a free Estonia, for whom freedom is natural and self-evident”, –  Kallas said.

Earlier in the day, Kallas’ predecessor as head of government, the current speaker of the Estonian parliament, Jüri Ratas, noted the significant contribution of external forces to Estonia’s independence. Note that NATO troops are permanently stationed in the country. Estonia’s air borders are also patrolled by foreign air forces.