The Latvian Ambassador's car outside the building of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow. Archival photoMOSCOW, May 20.In the center of Riga, a procession «for liberation from the Soviet legacy» is taking place, the organizers advocate the demolition of Soviet monuments throughout the country and the expulsion of all persons disloyal to Latvia, Delfi.lv reports. «The march «For Liberation from the Soviet Legacy» is taking place in the center of Riga. The organizers suggest that about five thousand people can take part in it,» the message says.
Latvia decided to rename the Moscow GardenDelfi publishes a video showing how the procession participants walk along the pedestrian streets in the historical center of Riga with Latvian flags. demolished throughout the country, and disloyal citizens should be deprived of citizenship, expelled from the country and prohibited from running anywhere,» Delfi reports. Cases of vandalism against Soviet monuments have become more frequent after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine. A large-scale anti-Russian campaign has unfolded in Lithuania. The Russian Embassy in Lithuania called the situation «barbaric and blasphemous» actions aimed at inciting hatred and fear in the country. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the situation with the monuments to Soviet soldiers in Latvia and Lithuania, called what is happening «an international outrage.» The Latvian Parliament had previously suspended the clause of the intergovernmental agreement with Russia on the protection of monuments to Soviet soldiers, which allows dismantling the monument to the Liberators of Riga. 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 specialized agency to ensure the dismantling of the monument. Against the backdrop of Latvia's decision, Andrey Klimov, head of the Federation Council commission for the protection of state sovereignty, told RIA Novosti that Latvia needs to be «reasoned» by taking extremely tough measures, including economic ones.
Latvia closed the Consulate General in St. Petersburg and the Consulate in Pskov
