Advertisement Article continues below this ad Soon, however, Rüütel was using his position to prepare for Estonia’s split ...

“He was one of the leaders of our independence,” said a statement from the office ... in the face of revisionist forces attempting to reverse the breakup of the Soviet Union. “During the critical days ...

Arnold Ruutel seen as one of the fathers of the country’s return to independence in 1991, has died at the age of 96.

Soon, however, Rüütel was using his position to prepare for Estonia’s split from the Soviet Union, which had occupied ... in preparing a declaration of independence, with full sovereignty ...

Soon, however, he was using his position to prepare for Estonia’s split from the Soviet Union, which had occupied ... in preparing a declaration of independence, with full sovereignty following ...