RIGA - March 16 is fast approaching, and once again Latvian society is in a knot. A number of demonstrations and marches are scheduled to mark the highly controversial day 's known as Legionnaires' Day 's which commemorates the Latvian Waffen SS unit who fought in World War II alongside Nazi forces against Soviet Russia.
Every year the day brings out Latvian nationalists and anti-fascist protesters, the latter made up of ethnic Russians, and sparks fierce debate both domestically and abroad. Exasperated with the negative PR the Baltic state receives, Latvia's leadership is appealing to people to stay home.
"In my opinion, a person who considers himself or herself a patriot of Latvia would not support such events with his or her presence. But in a democratic country, of course, it is possible to express such a position to a certain extent," President Vaira Vike-Freiberga said.
She noted that nationalist groups holding rallies on this day may tarnish the reputation of Latvia. She said that it would allow the enemies of the country to "attach the fascist label" to Latvians.
Special Task Minister for Integration Oskars Kastens agrees with the president that the day is an inappropriate one for demonstrating patriotism. "We Latvians have enough other dates to commemorate our soldiers," Kastens said in an interview with the daily Neatkariga. "Elevation of the date for showing off patriotism is a mistake," he said.
This year five organizations have informed the Riga City Council of their plans to hold demonstrations on the day. The most prominent event planned is the traditional evening march from the Occupation Museum in Old Town to the Freedom Monument. The march is organized by Latvia's National Force Union.
Also coming out in support of the day will be a rally organized by Igors Siskins, a former member of the radical nationalist group Perkonskrusts. Siskins plans to hold the rally in Riflemen Square next to the City Hall at 5 p.m.
A demonstration organized by Latvia's Anti-Fascist Committee in opposition to the day will also be held in downtown Riga at 4:30 in the afternoon. A society for the commemoration of the 1991 barricades is planning a meeting at 11 a.m. near the Freedom Monument.
Genadijs Kotovs from the Riga City Council is planning yet another demonstration supporting the tenants of denationalized apartment buildings; he plans to see about 200 participants.
The applications for the events have been sent to security services to be analyzed. Should they have objections to the proposals, the Riga City authorities may ban the events.
The Latvian legionnaires are commemorated on the day for their fight for freedom against Soviet occupation. Their connection with Nazi Germany, however, has drawn criticism of the date from a number of sources despite attempts to explain that the soldiers were not Nazis.
The unit was established in February 1943 and contained about 140,000 soldiers. A total of 50,000 of those soldiers died in the war or as the result of deportations. March 16 was chosen as the day to commemorate the soldiers because of a crucial battle with Russia on the date in 1944.
Many Latvians see the legionnaires as independence fighters who joined the ranks of the Nazis to expel the Red Army, which invaded first. Russians, however, regard the legionnaires as fascist collaborators and are therefore guilty of the same crimes as all of Nazi Germany.
