Estonia is a small country in the northern/eastern part of Europe, trying hard to leave behind its Soviet past and reaching neo-liberal paradise of Scandinavia. Although we do have our fair share of neo-nazis here, they haven't had much luck with party politics. The only extreme right party - The Indpendence Party have rarely passed the 1% point in the elections.

Adventures of Tarmo - The Far-Right punk rocker in the City Council

Estonia is a small country in the northern/eastern part of Europe, trying hard to leave behind its Soviet past and reaching neo-liberal paradise of Scandinavia. Although we do have our fair share of neo-nazis here, they haven't had much luck with party politics. The only extreme right party - The Indpendence Party have rarely passed the 1% point in the elections.

The hero of our story belongs to the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union, one of the two ruling parties in the local parliament, basically a conservative/christian/center right party. In the capital city of Tallinn, the party is in opposition. Tarmo Kruusimäe was elected to the city council in 2009.

Tarmo was active in the blooming Estonian punk scene in the 80's, forming a band called Kulo. The band has some extremly embarrassing songs, such as "Pepper Cunt" - apparantly about "moaning women, trying to follow the latest trends". The band is still active and has performed together with local neo-nazi outfits such as Preserve White Aryans (yeah, only the white ones...), but have also perfom at the presidental campaign events for the current president of Estonia. Performing on stage, he has often wore t-shirts with "message", most famous of them "I hate Gays!".

On 5th of April this year, mr. Kruusimäe went on rampage infront of 78 other members of the city council, warning them of upcoming riots by anarchists. On the 25th - 27th of May, the first Baltic Anarchist Meeting took place in Tallinn and Kruusimäe was sure that there will be some clashes like there were during the two-day riots in 2007, after a monument for red army soldierd was finally moved from the center of the city.

"If you've read about anarchists, Bakunin and Kropotkin, they were idealists. These days they're a very violent crowd. They are the people with masks, that only show their eyeballs, pushing over cars and throwing Molotov cocktails. There are some brave men in here and we we'll manage this by ourselves if the police won't. The are anarchists from Sweden, Finland, Russia coming here. Let them bomb their own cities! We won't let them do it here!". The Baltic Anarchist Meeting actually consisted of discussions, bookfair, lectures and a peacful demonstration of some 150 people.

Last summer, the local anti-fascists held a talk on the neo-fascist movement in Estonia in the local anarchist-ran social center. Outside some 20 neo-nazis from a far-right football firm gathered, trying to get into the center aswell. Among others, our dear member of the city council - Tarmo Kruusimäe, was also in action. Threating to use his position in the city council and in the city's youth depratment, to make our lives bitter if we won't let him in. That situation was also mentioned in his speech in the city council, with a recommendation not to donate to the center (as if we've ever asked for it), but there, he told his co-members that he wasn't allowed in because of him belongin the the party, not because he was there with a bunch of neo-nazi skinheads, although there's photos proving it.

A worrying situation for the anarchists and anti-fascists in Tallinn as his position really could make an end to our social center and so on, but a situation without a solution. Although Kruusimäe is alone the voice of local neo-nazis in the city council, others will not take any action as it would mean admitting a problem with neo-fascists in Estonia and that would give a bone to chew for the Russian propaganda, so feared by the ex-Soviet state with cold relations to its Eastern neighbor.