Latvian Interior Minister urges people to avoid Freedom Monument today

As the controversial March 16 commemorations get underway in Riga, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis has said in an interview with Latvian Radio that random passersby should not approach the Freedom Monument today unless they really have to. Today is Latvian Legion Day, commemorating the soldiers of the regiment of the same name, which was a part of the Nazi Waffen SS. The annual event is the subject of heated debate in Latvia and elsewhere: some have alleged that the commemoration glorifies fascism; others claim that the legion was fighting for a free Latvia against an aggressive Soviet Union and was not responsible for Nazi war crimes. LETA has previously reported that Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma is confident that ministers will not attend the event at the Freedom Monument in central Riga, although Justice Minister Dzintars Rasnacs has said he will lay flowers at the monument outside of work hours.

Although the law enforcement authorities are prepared to keep the peace during today's events, they have indicated that provocations may still take place, which is why people are urged to avoid gathering by the Freedom Monument and stay away from provocations. The minister stressed that participants in the authorised events are, of course, allowed to assemble.

Kozlovskis said that a number of people had been included on Latvia's "blacklist" prior to March 16.

The minister reminded listeners that opponents of March 16 may try to discredit Latvia by claiming that fascism is being reborn in the country. The politician also mentioned that the Security Police have received information that the so-called antifascists are being funded by Russia.

As reported, all four events for and against WWII Latvian Legion Day for which applications were submitted to the municipality will take place by the Freedom Monument in Riga today.

Rallies will also take place by the Russian and German embassies in Riga today in order to remind the public and the media about the illegal actions of the Soviets and Nazis in the occupied territory of Latvia during World War II, the events' organiser Ieva Brante informed LETA.

The organisers of the rally have stated that while Germany has repented for its war crimes, Russia continues to disassociate itself from the crimes perpetrated by Soviet authorities, by asserting that the country is not heir to the political regime of the Soviet Union. Such claims are hypocritical, she argued, considering that Russia has taken over the Soviet Union's special status at the UN Security Council and has stressed its special role in the victory over the Nazi regime.

The activists believe that during the past couple of years, March 16 in central Riga has become an information battlefield, where Russia-funded "antifascists" publicly defame Latvia calling it a place where Nazism is being reborn. This false rhetoric is also used against the other Baltic States, as well as in Ukraine.

"I believe it would be great to have a new tradition - to remind Germany and Russia every year about their crimes against Latvia during World War II. Why not do it on March 16? The creation of the Latvian Legion is an acknowledgement of that," the events' organiser said.

The traditional memorial ceremony for Latvian soldiers who fell in WWII will be held at the Lestene Brethren Cemetery near the town of Tukums in western Latvia, LETA was informed by Tukums Regional Council spokeswoman Aiga Priede.

She said that various memorial events will take place at Lestene today, all taking place at the cemetery and in Lestene Lutheran Church.

Thousands of Latvian WWII legionnaires are buried at the Lestene Brethren Cemetery, as well as many Latvian partisans who fought against the Soviet regime after the war.