Riga City Council votes in favor of dismantling the «Occupation Monument»-BalticNewsNetwork

On Friday, May 13, the Riga City Council voted in favor of demolishing the so-called Occupation Monument in Riga, Paldaugava.

39 lawmakers agreed with the dismantling and 13 opposed it.

The Riga City Council has convened an extraordinary meeting to discuss the fate of the Soviet monument in Victory Park.

A draft legislation prepared by the Riga City Council stipulates that the Riga Memorial Agency take the necessary actions “to ensure that Soviet military monuments are demolished and removed from the park.”

The draft legislation also provides for the Riga City Council Urban Development Department, the Riga City Council Property Department, and the Riga City Policy to provide the Riga Memorial Agency with the support necessary to ensure that decisions are implemented. I am.

There was a short 10-minute break at the start of the meeting, allowing Harmony Party representatives to resolve connectivity issues and attend the meeting. The 10-minute break was announced at the request of KonstantīnsČekušins, the faction leader of the party’s Riga city council.

As previously reported, on Thursday, May 12, Latvian Saeima passed a final reading amendment proposed by the Foreign Affairs Commission to destroy the Soviet monument at Pārdaugava in Victory Park. Removed legal obstacles.

The topic of the Soviet Victory Monument became a hot topic following Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.