Mikhail Vanin. File photoMOSCOW, Aug 24The Russian Embassy in Latvia has prepared proposals for response to the demolition of Soviet monuments dedicated to the Great Patriotic War, both economic and diplomatic, said Russian Ambassador to Latvia Mikhail Vanin. «We are sending our thoughts and proposals to Moscow… (Measures are) both diplomatic and economic in nature,» he said, speaking in the «Evening with Vladimir Solovyov» program on the Rossiya 1 TV channel. At the same time, the ambassador stressed that today relations between Russia and Latvia have been reduced to the level of «technical contacts.» The dismantling of 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 the detention of 14 people. Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the destruction of the monument to the soldiers-liberators of Riga and Latvia is unacceptable for a civilized country and leads to further degradation of relations between Moscow and Riga.
Russia urged world structures to assess the demolition of the monument to the Liberators of Riga
