Thread by @ronaldliive

Today 73 years ago the #Soviet occupation forcibly deported more than 20 000 people from #Estonia to #Siberia. In total they deported more than 90 000 people from the three Baltic states, including many children and the elderly. Prime example of a crime against humanity🧵1/12

Mass deportations were used by Soviets many times over the years. The biggest waves took place in June of 1941 and March 1949. So who were targeted? Mainly women, children and elderly. Why? According to the occupiers they were “anti-Soviet elements” 2/12

There were no trials that had legally found out that someone was an “anti-Soviet element”. They just went to peoples homes and forcibly shoved them onto trucks and later threw them into railroad cattle cars! 1949 deportation included roughly only 10% of working age men! 3/12

The Soviets didn’t look the other way when it came to disabled people, pregnant women, newborns and children separated from their parents. The youngest of them was just one day old Virve Eliste who was deporter from Hiiumaa island and died a year later 4/12

Some deportations were based on ethnicity and religion. During the 1941 deportation the main target was the Estonian elite - CINC Johan Laidoner, president Konstantin Päts and the wider political and military leadership (10 ministers out of 11, 68 MP’s out of 120) 5/12

Many of the people deported perished and most never returned back home. Outside the bigger waves Soviets continually deported people on smaller scale from 1940-1956 6/12

My grandfather Valter Liive belonged to the Omakaitse (militia “home guard” organisation), deserted the Soviet army etc. due all of his actions he was sentenced to 18 years in forced labor. He was also deported to Siberia. I never met my grandfather ("thanks" Soviets) 7/12

One of the so-called “anti-Soviet elements” was a 6 month old Kristi. She lived in Siberia for 10 years and managed to return to Estonia. This is the story of our PM @kajakallas's mother. You can read about her family story here: kajakallas.ee/postitus/kommu… 8/12

“Aegumatu” is a documentary which emphasises there are crimes that do not expire. It starts with a scene of MEP Tunne Kelam telling the story that many people in Europe don’t know nothing about the deportations. Watch it here: (sorry no subtitles) jupiter.err.ee/1608234324/aeg… 9/12

"In the Crosswind" is a movie that’s based on a story of a 27-year old mother that was deported to Siberia. It’s available online and with English subtitles netikino.ee/risttuules?lan… 10/12

So this gives you a bit of insight why Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians know all too well what Ukrainians are feeling at the moment and why aren't we keeping quiet nor calling #ukraine to surrender 11/12

So bundits before you utter the words that @NATO should of never had expanded eastwards now hopefully some of you realise why #Estonia, #Latvia and #Lithuania wanted to join NATO as soon as possible 12/12