Estonia: excavation of Soviet war graves in Tallinn has begun

The Defense Ministry of Estonia said Saturday, that it had began exhuming Soviet war graves in downtown Tallinn.

A memorial statue was removed early Friday, causing widespread riots in the capital. A religious service had been conducted before the excavations started, to honor the persons buried near the disputed Bronze Soldier monument in Tallinn, the ministry said in a statement. Most experts say about 15 people are buried at the small park where the monument stood, but the exact number and the their identity is not known.