Vike-Freiberga warns against "collaboration with anti-Latvian forces"

  • 2006-03-15
RIGA 's President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said on Wednesday that she would urge Latvian not to participate in any public commemoration of Waffen SS Legionnaires on March since any such gesture would be used by anti-Latvian forces that will aim to discredit the country.

She said she was in possession of reliable information that there would be plenty of journalists on hand to film Latvian police "attacking poor anti-fascists."

"We have reliable information about some lawmakers taking part in it... Since the beginning of February, letters have been sent around the world that there will be collisions in Latvia on March 16," Vike-Freiberga said.

A committee of the Riga City Council has refused to allow the Legionnaire procession from taking place, saying there was sufficient evidence of possible public disorder.