Court reject protest ban appeals

RIGA 's A district court has rejected appeals to the Riga City Council decision to ban all demonstrations in the city center on March 16, the date for commemoration of the Latvian Waffen SS unit or the so-called Latvian Legionnaires, who fought on the side of Nazi Germany during World War II.

On March 13 the court rejected an application was filed by the Daugavas Vanagi, a patriotic organization founded by exiled Latvians after World War II, from holding an event on March 16. Later that same day, the court also rejected an appeal for a counter march from the left-wing alliance For Human Rights in United Latvia.

The Riga City Council committee for review of applications for organizing rallies, pickets and processions resolved on March 9 to ban holding of any demonstrations at the Freedom Monument, one of Latvia's national symbols, on March 16.

Several organizations with conflicting ideologies had applied for the municipal authorization to hold events at the Freedom Monument on March 16.