Today is a day of mourning in Estonia. On this day we remember the victims of the mass Soviet deportations that took place in 1941. Over a period of three days, from 14th June - 17th June 1941, over 10,000 innocent people were forcibly taken from their homes and sent to remote parts of Russia. More than 7,000 women, children and elderly people were among those deported. The victims were crammed into wooden cattle wagons and endured a gruelling trip that took weeks to reach Siberia. Most of them perished, never to see home again.
This day reminds us of the importance of remembering our people's history and respecting the suffering of those who had to go through indescribable hardships. These deportations were one of many Soviet crimes against humanity.
Me kunagi ei unusta / we will never forget.
