Dismantling of Soviet-era monument in Riga might cost up to EUR 2 million - Kirsis

  • 2022-05-25
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - Dismantling of the Soviet-era monument in Riga might cost up to EUR 2 million, said Riga Vice Mayor Vilnis Kirsis (New Unity) in an interview with the Latvian public television today.

He said that a project on dismantling the monument is being prepared, construction companies are being addressed. At the same, the Riga City Council is waiting for legislative amendments from the parliament that would simplify the procedure.

Kirsis said that the local government will not hesitate to start dismantling work, but they will be complicated because the monument is a "huge piece of concrete that cannot be torn down in a day".

Riga  vice mayor said that EUR 264,000 donated by residents for dismantling of the monument is a huge support, but it is hard to estimate exact cost of the project - it might cost from several hundreds of thousands euros up to a couple of million euros.

As reported, the Saeima education, culture and science committee has drafted a bill allowing for the removal of all monuments that have been built in honor of communism and Latvia's occupation by the Soviet Union. Meanwhile, this bill does no refer to monument placed in cemeteries and memorials for Soviet or Nazi victims.

It has also been reported, the Riga City Council at an extraordinary meeting earlier this month ruled in favor of dismantling of the Soviet-era monument in Pardaugava, Riga.

The councilors decided to task Riga Municipal Monument Agency with all the necessary steps necessary to dismantle the "Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders".

Also, the Riga City Council decided that the Riga City Council city development department, the property department and the Riga Municipal Police should provide the agency with all necessary support in this matter.