In early morning hours of May 10th the authorities of Riga destroyed all flowers laid to the Monument to Liberators in Pardaugava. To destroy thousands of bouquets, tractors were sent. This is not someone’s personal mistake. This is a premeditated symbolic act which reveals the attitude of the authorities towards those hundreds of thousands of Latvians who cherish the May 9th tradition.
The political forces which rule both Latvia and Riga are putting all their effort to insult the Russian-speaking part of the Latvian society. They also intend to destroy and ban our traditions and our language.
Cynically misuing the tragedy unfloding now in Ukraine, monuments are being demolished, commemorations to honour victims of the WWII and their liberators are being banned. Every day brings more and more steps of psychological violence and humiliation.
Catastrophically, the initial call of the top leadership of Latvia to not take revenge on the Russian-speaking fellow countrymen for the war that they did not start did not stay for long. Very soon the logic of revenge and bloodthirsty destruction of the memory, morale and common sense has overtaken.
The destruction of monuments has started. The flowers laid to the Victory Monument were removed with a bulldozer. The same day the government supported the laws on total destruction of monuments and full ban of the Russian language in the education system.
It is time to say, “ENOUGH”.
The Latvian Russian Union announced the protest rally for May 13.
