I have not doubt that the monument at Victory Park will be dismantled - Murniece

RIGA - I have no doubt that the monument at Victory Park in Riga will be dismantled, said the Speaker of the Saeima Inara Murniece (National Alliance) in an interview this morning on TV3.

She reminded that the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Saeima is working to review all international agreements concluded with Russia that would be applicable in connection with the monument. Ways are being sought as to whether, for example, an agreement or its article should not be suspended, which would allow Latvia to act in relation to the so-called Victory Monument as it deems necessary. The Saeima will do this work independently of the Riga City Council and the government.

"I have no doubt that the monument in Victory Park will be dismantled. The Saeima is leading this process. I think it will happen sooner than anyone thinks," said the speaker of the parliament.

Asked if this would happen during the term of the current Saeima, Murniece replied: "I really hope so."

She emphasized that the monument symbolizes the occupation of Latvia. "We see what the occupation forces are doing in Ukraine at the moment right before our very eyes. Latvia too was ''liberated'' in the same way, which was in fact an occupation with atrocities, deportations, killings and war crimes," the politician said.

Murniece believes that a referendum is not necessary to determine the fate of the monument, because "we understand what to do with it anyways", moreover, the events in Ukraine have again exacerbated this issue and focused attention on it.

"We see right now that a majority of the public thinks it would be right to do so," the politician added.