In the wake of last week's riots in Tallinn, Poland has given the go ahead for a string of communist era monuments to be removed from towns and cities across the country.
A new law will go into effect on May 15, making it easier for local authorities to take the initiative in liquidating reminders of totalitarian rule.
However, whilst Polish/Russian relations have been at best awkward over the last few years, and at worst downright confrontational, the new law is unlikely to cause the furore that erupted in Estonia, where hundreds of ethic Russians took to the streets in protest last week.
Poland's move should be less controversial for a number of reasons. Firstly, unlike Estonia, which has a 30% Russian minority, Poland does not have a significant Russian population. Secondly, most of the important statues and landmarks were removed in the immediate aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall. And finally, Poland has stated that it will not be tampering with the graves of Soviet soldiers.
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