MOSCOW COLD-SHOULDERS ESTONIAN REQUEST FOR RETURN OF CULTURAL VALUABLES.

In talks with Russian officials in Moscow yesterday, Estonian Culture Minister Jaak Allik requested the return of Estonian historical valuables held in Russia. The valuables include Estonia’s Presidential Badge of Office, taken in 1940 by Soviet occupation authorities from President Konstantin Paats, who died in Siberian exile; and the art and archival collections of the 300-year-old Tartu University, which were taken away by Russian troops during the First World War. The Badge is now kept in the Kremlin, and the University’s collections in Voronezh. Post-Soviet Russia has not found it possible to return these valuables to Estonia.

LUKASHENKA EXTENDS EVICTION DEADLINE–BARELY.