Latvian authorities will fail to ruin the memory, Belarus’ MEP believes

Irina Dovgalo, a member of the Standing Committee of the House of Representatives on Legislation, commented in her Telegram channel on Latvian authorities’ decision to remove all flowers from the Victory monument. She believes this act is nothing but blasphemy and vandalism.

“You can remove flowers from the monument with a tractor, but you cannot destroy the memory. This is vandalism, blasphemy, insult. It is hardly possible to find words to describe the Latvian authorities’ shameful actions: they removed all the flowers laid by grateful Latvians at the Monument to Soviet Army Soldiers – Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from Nazi Invaders. By the way, this monument was unveiled in 1985, and – I would like to note – its authors, sculptors, engineers, and architects are Latvians,” Ms. Dovgyalo said, adding that ordinary people call this memorial a Victory Monument.

The parliamentarian appealed to the Lithuanian authorities, “Have you really forgotten that it was the successful offensive of the Soviet troops in the summer of 1944 during the Operation Bagration that created the conditions for complete liberation of the Baltic republics? The Soviet offensive on Riga was conducted by the forces of five armies, simultaneously from four directions. Have you forgotten that, during the years of the Fascist occupation, life in Riga turned into endless torture under the occupiers’ rule? And the Victory was possible only thanks to the Soviet soldiers.”

Ms. Dovgyalo emphasised that a huge number of flowers – swept away by special machinery – indicates that many Latvians remember the feat of heroes.

“European politicians, you remove flowers from monuments, you desecrate and demolish memorials, you forbid wearing St. George ribbons, you forbid celebrating Victory Day – but you are unable to forbid to remember,” the Belarusian MEP stressed.