Mark Sirők

Mark Sirők (Russian: Марк Сирык, born 12 March 1989) is a Russian-speaking Estonian political activist. He is designated as a commissar of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi^[1] and a leader of the movement in Estonia.^[2]

His name's original spelling includes ő, a letter unique to Hungarian language. Accordingly, he is also known as Mark Siryk after double transliteration through Cyrillic, and his name is sometimes alternatively spelt Mark Sirök or Mark Sirõk, replacing ő with similar yet more common letters. In English-language texts, Mark Sirok is also used.

The Bronze Night in 2007

Sirők has mainly garnered attention in relation to the Bronze Night riots in Tallinn that left 150 people injured in April 2007. After the riots, he was arrested and together with Dmitri Linter, Dmitri Klenski and Maksim Reva later tried for inciting rioting.^[3][4] Among other evidence, investigation by Estonian Security Police had claimed that he had been organizing the "guard" near the Bronze Soldier by sending SMS's offering a pay of 80 Estonian kroons per hour, a rate somewhat higher than the average salary at that time, at several times higher than the minimum wage.^[5] The cash to be paid for the "guards" had been allegedly received from Russia.^[6]

All four were acquitted by the district court in January 2009, the ruling has upheld by Tallinn Court of Appeal in April, and the Supreme Court refused to review the case in July.^[7]

Political views

In an interview with Eesti Ekspress, Sirők has said he supports the constitution of Estonia and is not anti-Estonian. In particular, he highlighted his work in neutralising anti-Estonian sentiment, which he said was widespread among Nashi members.^[8] At the time of interview, Sirők had not voted in any Estonian elections on account of his youth, but said he would likely vote for Keskerakond in future elections.^[8]

References

1. ^ Nashi: Марк Сирык: "Фашизм не пройдет!" (in Russian)
2. ^ Photo #180275: Mark Siryk, the leader of Russia's youth "Nashi" movement in Estonia
3. ^ USA Today
4. ^ Channel 4
5. ^ Kuimet, Peeter (2007-04-26). "Vene noori palgatakse Tõnismäele valvama" (in Estonian). Postimees (ExpressMeedia). http://www.postimees.ee/310807/esileht/siseuudised/257263.php. Retrieved 2009-06-04. 
6. ^ Berendson, Risto (2007-10-19). "Aprillirahutusi suunas raha ja nõuga Venemaa" (in Estonian). Postimees (EkspressMeedia). http://www.postimees.ee/191007/esileht/siseuudised/290327.php. Retrieved 2009-06-04. 
7. ^ V. Pettai M. Molder Estonia p. 207// Nations in Transit. Freedom House 2010
8. ^ ^{a b} ekspress.ee

See also

• Bronze Night
• Dmitri Linter
• Nochnoy Dozor (pressure group)

Persondata
Name	Sirok, Mark
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Short description
Date of birth	1989-03-12
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death