Tartu – The memorial stand on the site of the Tartu Synagogue is damaged and a swastika and neo-Nazi code 88 are scratched on it.
On Sunday, representatives of the Jewish community of Tartu discovered that the memorial stand, installed on the site of the Tartu synagogue in June this year on the day of the 120th anniversary of its opening, was damaged and on the reverse side was scratched a swastika and the neo-Nazi code 88, which disguises the Nazi salute “Heil Hitler.”
The stand is located on Turu Street, one of the main streets of Tartu. The vandalism was reported to the police. According to Tartu Police Department investigator Timo Reinthal, an investigation has been launched under the Criminal Code article on property damage.
A more precise qualification can only be given based on the results of the investigation. The Estonian Jewish community issued a statement calling the vandalism a manifestation of growing antisemitism in Europe, which is also spreading to Estonia. The statement said it was particularly unfortunate that the synagogue, built 120 years ago by a Baltic German architect, was damaged during World War II and the ruins were demolished by order of the Soviet authorities at the end of the war. Now neo-Nazis have chosen the memorial stand as an object of their hatred of Jews.
The results of the investigation are not yet known. So far, not a single political party or organization in Estonia has condemned this act of vandalism.
