Original sentence: As a consequence, the population that immigrated during the Soviet occupation and their descendants have been labeled by some as illegal occupiers or colonists.By 1992, the pre-1940 citizenship law was reinstated, conferring automatic citizenship to pre-1940 citizens and their descendants (see jus sanguinis).Ethnic Estonians regard the period of Soviet Estonia as an illegal occupation, a viewpoint that is the official position of the Estonian Government as well as major world powers such as the USA and EU, but not the Russian Federation.In 1991, Estonia "confirmed" its independence from the Soviet Union..  At the time over a third of Estonia's population were descendants of Soviet economic migrants, mostly speaking Russian language natively, from post-World War II period.Interpretation of historical events lies at the core of several of the most important ethnic controversies in Estonia.Post-1940 settlers and their descendants residing in Estonia could apply for citizenship after passing tests in Estonian language and history exam.They tend to see the monument as a symbol of their purported right to live in Estonia as descendants of the people that liberated the country from fascism
Edited sentence: As a consequence, the population that immigrated during the Soviet occupation and their descendants have been labeled by some as illegal occupiers () or colonists.At the time over a third of Estonia's population were descendants of mostly Russian-speaking Soviet economic migrants from post-World War II period.By 1992, the pre-1940 citizenship law was reinstated, with an interpretation that reserved automatic Estonian citizenship to pre-1940 citizens and their descendants (jus sanguinis).Ethnic Estonians regard the period of Soviet Estonia as an illegal occupation, a viewpoint that is the official position of the Estonian Government as well as major Western powers such as theUSA.Interpretation of historical events lies at the core of ethnic controversies in Estonia.On August 20, 1991, the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Estonia formally “confirmed” with its Resolution on the Independence of Estonia Estonia's independence from the Soviet Union.Only Estonian citizens could vote in the 1992 constitutional referendum and the subsequent parliamentary elections, which brought to power prime minister Mart Laar's pro-restoration government.Post-1940 settlers and their descendants resident in Estonia could apply for citizenship after passing an Estonian language and history exam.They tend to see the monument as a symbol of their purported right to live in Estonia as descendants of the "people that liberated the country from fascism"