MPs argue over Latvian Legion Day

RIGA - Members of the Saeima Citizenship Law Implementation Committee got into a heated argument on Feb. 29, while discussing March 16 Latvian Legion Day events, writes LETA.

MP Irina Cvetkova (Harmony Center) said she would like Latvian National Soldier Association's board chairman Edgars Skreija to tell what he and other legionnaires "had done to feel proud about." For instance, Cvetkova wished to know if they were proud of how many Red Army soldiers they had killed.

Skreija said that Cvetkova had "gone too far," and the committee's chairman, Ilmars Latkovskis (All For Latvia-For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK, VL-TB/LNNK), also raised objections. MP Ingmars Lidaka raised his voice, remarking that it was not fascism being remembered on March 16 in Latvia. Later he apologized to Cvetkova, explaining that he made the statement, remembering his father's experience, who did not have the chance to commemorate his fallen comrades during in Soviet times.

MP Inara Murniece (VL-TB/LNNK) also said that Cvetkova should not "speak in such a tone with a former Latvian Legion member." She apologized to Skreija for her colleague's conduct, while Cvetkova stressed that no apology was necessary.

Eventually Skreija told Cvetkova that Latvian Legion members had contributed "as much as they possibly could, so people could live in a free Latvia today."