Nochnoy Dozor (Russian:Ночной дозор,lit. 'Night Watch',Estonian:Öine Vahtkond) is a group of mostlyRussophone politicalactivists living inEstonia.[1] It was set up in the middle of 2006, with its original declared goal of defending theBronze Soldier, a monument grave marker inTallinn, near theEstonian National Library and next to atrolleybus stop, against "defacing, relocation andexhumation".[2]
The group has made several anti-governmental statements[3] and are said to be supported by theRussian Foreign Ministry.[4] Nochnoy Dozor refers to itself as ananti-fascist organization.[5][6]
The group has made a number of public statements dubbing various Estonian politicians asNazis and calling for their resignation. These statements are often rapidly taken up byRussian language media channels. Following the relocation of theBronze Soldier of Tallinn in April 2007, the group called for the resignation of the whole Estonian cabinet of ministers. According to an article in the EstonianPostimees, during July 2007 the group was instrumental in constructing a controversy over the 50th birthday party ofRein Lang, Estonian Minister of Justice; Nochnoy Dozor was involved in calling for Lang's resignation.[7]
The group is also semi-humorously referred to asNochnoy Pozor (Night Shame) after its well-recognizedchant ofPozor! Pozor! (Russian forShame! Shame!) in the course of the day preceding theBronze Night.[8]
On November 25, 2007, the group's website republished, with a title "business training" and a link to the forum disbunking the hoax, wrong information about the supposed secretdevaluation of theEstonian kroon.The Security Police started an investigation of the matter.[9] The accusation is based on a message published at organization's message board[10] that originated from the portal Arif where it appeared under the header "Business training. This is a game scenario". Later, after speculation in local media and blogs mentioning Nochnoy Dozor's forum as a source, a link to Arif's website was added on Nochnoy Dozor's forum and a message describing the news post as a game appeared.[11]
The Russian news portalNewsru.com incorrectly reported that the press secretary of theSecurity Police told the media that the organization singled out Nochnoy Dozor because of this organization's connections to Russia.[12] Newsru quoted him as saying that while there was no ground for the criminal investigation, the investigation can continue on different grounds.[12]
This report turned out to be a fabrication; the press release contains no mention of "singling out" Nochnoy Dozor nor the supposed plans to continue an official criminal investigation.[13]
