The Soviet-era memorial has been in the center of violent clashes between police and Russian-speaking Estonians since the government dismantled a Soviet soldier monument April 27. One Russian protester has been stabbed to death, over 150 have been injured and more than 1,000 arrested.
"This morning, we were told that a decision had been made not to allow us to visit the Tynismyagi square," said Nikolai Kovalev, head of the State Duma's veterans committee. "They said the presence of politicians, Russian as well as Estonian, would be inappropriate at the exhumation site."
"We do not agree with this position," Kovalev said, adding that yesterday, the delegation had been promised access to the site.
Estonia's government plans to rebury the remains of Soviet soldiers, once they have been identified, at a military cemetery on the capital's outskirts, which they say is a more appropriate burial place. Authorities said nine bodies had been found as of Monday.
Authorities have re-erected the Bronze Soldier statue at the military cemetery Monday in a bid to end unrest.
The monument reminds many Estonians of what they call the Soviet occupation, but Moscow and ethnic Russians in Estonia view its removal as a blow on Soviet contribution to defeating Nazi Germany and as another example of discrimination against Russians in the ex-Soviet Baltic states.
The dispute has strained relations between Russia and Estonia.
The group of visiting Russian lawmakers said Monday the Estonian government should resign as it had failed to predict the consequences of its move in the run-up to VE Day May 8, whereas senior lawmakers in Moscow urged earlier to take economic measures to punish Estonia and even sever diplomatic ties with the country.
Speaking at a Spring and Labor Day meeting in the Russian capital Tuesday, the Moscow mayor urged a boycott against Estonia, whose government "has revealed its true Nazi face."
"We must boycott all Estonian-made goods," Yury Luzhkov said. "We should tell our business: 'Stop dealing with Estonia.'"
The Baltic state has been uneasy about protests near its embassy in Moscow, as members of pro-Kremlin youth organizations have all but blocked the compound, and has issued a protest note, saying the pickets threatened security of the embassy staff.
