Tartu Peace 2 February 1920 fter difficult negotiations, the peace treaty between the ARTICLE II of the Treaty ARepublic of Estonia and Soviet In consequence of the right of all Russia was signed on 2 February 1920. peoples to self-determination, to the The treaty ended the Estonian War point of seceding completely from the of Independence that had lasted for State of which they form part, a right nearly a year and a half, and was one of proclaimed by the Socialist and Federal the first major achievements in the field Russian Republic of the Soviets, of international relations for the young Russia unreservedly recognises the Estonian state. The treaty established independence and sovereignty of Estonia’s eastern border, and Soviet the State of Estonia, and renounces Russia recognised the independence voluntarily and forever all sovereign of the Republic of Estonia in perpetuity. rights possessed by Russia over the The instruments of ratification of the Estonian people and territory whether treaty were exchanged in Moscow on these rights be based on the juridical 30 March 1920 and the treaty entered position that formerly existed in public into force. law, or in the international treaties • The Treaty of Tartu is written in which, in the sense here indicated, Estonian and Russian, registered with lose their validity in future. the League of Nations and published From the fact that Estonia has with a French and English translation belonged to Russia, no obligation in Volume XI of the League of Nations whatsoever will fall on the Estonian Treaty Series in 1922. people and land to Russia. • The treaty comprises 20 articles and recognised Estonian independence de in addition to ending the state of war it jure, renouncing voluntarily “for ever also includs articles on the recognition all rights of sovereignty formerly held of the Estonian state, covering border, by Russia over the Esthonian people security, economic, social and traffic and territory”. The Treaty of Tartu policies. was also the first international act ESTONIA AT A GLANCE AT ESTONIA • According to the treaty, Russia recognising the Soviet government. 1 December 2019 Diplomatic relations were established nations’ right to self-determination in between the two states. international law. • The border between Estonia and At the time, the Treaty of Tartu was, above Russia was established, and both the all, a peace treaty, ending the carnage municipalities beyond Narva as well that began with the First World War. as Petseri County became part of The memoirs of William Tomingas, the Estonian territory. This border stood secretary of the Estonian delegation, until 1944. describe the solemn reception the • Estonia was freed from all obligations delegation of the Treaty of Tartu received towards Russia, while Russia was in Tallinn. Many people who had come obligated to return the property that to the streets to greet them took off their had been evacuated from Estonia; hats despite the bitter cold. Estonia was also granted 15 million The head of the Estonian delegation Jaan gold roubles from the Russian gold Poska later remembered that for him, the fund. greatest recognition for his work came • According to the treaty, every Estonian from a woman standing on a street; she living in Russia had the right to move crossed herself and told him, “You saved to Estonia. Based on the treaty, 38 our sons”… 000 Estonians opted for Estonian The importance of the historic treaty nationality (at the end of the War of for the Estonian state is best summed Independence, there were about 320 up in the words of Jaan Poska: “Today Estonian settlements or centres and is the most important day of the past around 190 000 Estonians in Russia). 700 years for Estonia, because today, • On the Estonian side, the treaty was for the first time, Estonia alone will signed by members of the Constituent determine the future fate of its people.” Assembly Jaan Poska, Ants Piip, Julius Seljamaa, Mait Püüman and Major- General Jaan Soots. The signatories on the Russian side were Adolph Joffe, member of the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet of Workmen, Peasants, Soldiers of the Red Army and Cossacks, and Isidore Gukovsky, member of the College of the Popular Commissariat of State Control. • Estonia’s peace treaty with Russia was the first international act that mentioned the right of peoples to decide their own destiny. Therefore, both the Treaty of Tartu as well as other treaties between Russia and its western neighbours that were modelled on it constituted an ESTONIA AT A GLANCE AT ESTONIA important step towards enshrining the Signatures of the Treaty 2 December 2019.