Demolition of the sculptural image of the Motherland of the monument to the soldiers of the Soviet Army — the liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga. File photoMOSCOW, Aug 25In Riga's Victory Park, the dismantling of the 79-meter obelisk, the last element of the monument to the liberators, has begun, the LSM portal reported. instead of blowing it up, and currently two pneumatic hammers are hitting the base of the monument,» the message says.Death of the Motherland. What awaits Latvia after the destruction of Soviet monuments It is also noted that the police blocked the approaches to the park for both pedestrians and all types of transport. The demolition is being broadcast live to the Latvian media from the park. Work to dismantle the monument to the liberators of Riga began on August 23, the day before, during preparations for the demolition, the police detained at least six people out of fifty protesters. By the evening of August 23, all three sculptures of Soviet soldiers were demolished. Information appeared in the media that after 21.00 Moscow time, hundreds of people gathered in Victory Park, some of them protested against the demolition. The police reported that 14 people had been arrested. The sculpture «Motherland» was demolished on August 24.The West will not stop at the destruction of our monumentsThe Parliament of Latvia previously stopped the operation of the clause of the intergovernmental agreement with Russia on the protection of monuments to Soviet soldiers, which allows the monument to the liberators of Riga to be dismantled. The police closed access to the monument, the municipal services removed the flowers laid by May 9 with a tractor, and later the residents of the city began to bring them again. The Latvian Parliament allowed the demolition of the monument. The Riga City Council voted for the demolition, instructing the relevant agency to ensure the dismantling of the monument. Latvia, along with neighboring Lithuania and Estonia, became one of the first republics of the former USSR to almost completely eradicate the Soviet legacy in monumental art. Cases of vandalism against Soviet monuments became more frequent after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine. Ordered to destroy: a monument to the liberators of the city is being demolished in Riga
On the morning of August 23, builders arrived at the monument in Victory Park, demolition began. wp-content/uploads/2022/08/bed4e74fe7f61521e9a75a20f5338a7d.jpg» />1 of 10
On the morning of August 23, builders drove up to the monument in Victory Park, demolition began.
Police officers were on duty at the monument, preparing for possible protests.
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Police officers were on duty at the monument, preparing for possible protests.
Meanwhile, an excavator was working at the foot of the monument, dismantling the steps.
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Meanwhile, an excavator was working at the foot of the monument, which dismantled the steps.
The territory was fenced off, the monument was fenced.
The territory was fenced off, the monument was surrounded by a fence.
The defenders of the monument were forbidden to hold a protest rally.
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Defenders of the monument were banned from holding a protest rally.
Earlier, the mayor of Riga, Mārtiņš Stakis, said that after the demolition, the monument would be destroyed because none of its parts were recognized as having artistic value. >6 out of 10
Earlier, the mayor of Riga, Mārtiņš Stakis, said that after the demolition, the monument would be destroyed, because none of its parts were recognized as artistic value.
The day before, the Latvian police had already dispersed a protest against demolition of the monument, several people were detained.
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The day before, the Latvian police had already broken up a protest against the demolition of the monument, several people were detained.
Star on the monument "To the Liberators of Riga".
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Star at the monument "To the Liberators of Riga".
Foreigners "found in illegal and unauthorized actions during dismantling" were promised to be expelled from the country.
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Foreigners "convicted of illegal and unauthorized actions during the dismantling", were promised to be expelled from the country.
Monument to the Liberators of Riga surrounded by scaffolding.
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Monument to the Liberators of Riga surrounded by scaffolding.
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On the morning of August 23, builders drove up to the monument in Victory Park, demolition began.
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Police officers were on duty at the monument, preparing for possible protests.
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Meanwhile, an excavator was working at the foot of the monument, which dismantled the steps.
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The territory was fenced off, the monument was surrounded by a fence.
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The defenders of the monument were forbidden to hold protest rally.
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Earlier, the mayor of Riga, Mārtiņš Stakis, said that after the demolition, the monument would be destroyed, because none of its parts were recognized as artistic value.
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The day before, the Latvian police had already broken up a protest against the demolition of the monument, several people were detained.
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Star on the monument "To the Liberators of Riga".
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Foreigners "convicted of illegal and unauthorized actions during the dismantling" were promised to be expelled from the country.
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Monument surrounded by scaffolding To the liberators of Riga.