The Bronze Soldier, a Soviet Red Army war memorial in Tallinn, became a focal point for the tensions between Estonians and the Russian-speaking minority within the country. In the wake of Estonia's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the significance of the statue evolved, representing differing narratives of history. While many Estonians saw it as a symbol of Soviet occupation and repression, ethnic Russians regarded it as a tribute to those who fought against fascism during World War II. On April 27, 2007, Estonian authorities initiated the removal of the statue from its location in the city center, citing the need to address the feelings of the local population who saw it as a negative symbol of their past. The removal was not just an administrative decision but a deeply political act that encapsulated the conflict over Estonian identity in the face of its Soviet legacy.

The removal process incited unexpected backlash, resulting in large-scale protests and riots that resulted in clashes between demonstrators and police. Protesters argued that the removal disrespected the memory of fallen soldiers and heightened ethnic tensions. In response to the unrest, the Estonian government had to deploy additional police forces to maintain order, leading to international media coverage. The incident dragged Estonia into the spotlight, drawing sharp criticism from Russia, which condemned the act as an affront to veterans and Russian-speaking citizens in Estonia. The diplomatic row escalated, leading to a series of retaliatory measures, including cyberattacks on Estonian government websites thought to be orchestrated from Russia.

The relocation of the Bronze Soldier to a military cemetery was intended to defuse the immediate tensions while also acknowledging the memorial's controversial nature. However, the incident left a lasting mark on Estonia’s national discourse regarding memory, identity, and how post-Soviet states navigate their shared histories. The symbol of the Bronze Soldier thus became a powerful representation of the broader struggles surrounding historical interpretation and national identity in the post-Soviet space.