Ukraine war divisions fuel feud between Estonian neighbors

A feud between neighbors in Vilivere has lasted nearly three years and is linked largely to their opposing views on Russia’s war against Ukraine, ERR reports. The dispute has involved loud music and, at least once, a physical confrontation.

Diana Kovaljova told ERR that her husband, Sergei Timarov, was hit on the head with a shovel by neighbor Simo Meerits during a dispute in August. She said Timarov tried to protect his head with his hand and suffered injuries to his ear, head and hand.

Meerits gave a different account, saying he acted in self-defence after telling Timarov to leave his property. “I was afraid of you, you are not welcome here,” he said he had told him. He said he grabbed the first object he could find.

The conflict in Vilivere, a village in Kohila municipality, began in 2023, when Sergei and Diana moved across the road from Rein Feil and his wife, Inna. Feil said tensions started with loud music and grew after his wife asked the new neighbors to turn it down. He said she was answered with a Russian-language insult.

Meerits, who moved into the neighborhood in January 2024, said loud Russian-language music also came from the couple’s property once the weather warmed. He said requests to lower the volume were met with insults. Neighbors said the music included songs praising the Soviet army.

Diana said she likes war songs and old Soviet films. “Does that mean I am a racist?” she asked.

Kohila deputy mayor Rando Lai said the municipality understood the dispute to be between people of different nationalities and connected to the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Police cannot force people to tolerate and respect one another, said Tago Trei, head of the Central Estonia police station.

Vilivere’s summer cottage cooperative was established during the Soviet period, and more people have moved to the village permanently over the decades. Feil and his wife have lived on Kariste Road for more than 30 years.