Soviet, Nazi glorification now crime against humanity

Latvia’s Saeima on May 15 passed in the final reading amendments to the Criminal Law, which make gross derogation of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace or war crimes against Latvia perpetrated by the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany a criminal offense, reports LETA.

According to law, persons will be held criminally liable for the glorification of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace or war crimes, including glorification, denial, justification or gross derogation of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace or war crimes against Latvia perpetrated by the Soviet Union or Nazi Germany.

"We decided to mention in the Criminal Law the foreign powers that have perpetrated crimes against Latvia and the Latvian nation - the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Although the Security Police said that the law already made it possible for it to take action against persons justifying international crimes perpetrated by these regimes, this provision had to be incorporated in the law," explained Andrejs Judins (Unity), chairman of Saeima's Criminal Law Policy Subcommittee. He expects the amendments will help the authorities to promptly investigate cases that deal with justification of the Holocaust, deportations, torture, murders and military incursion in the territory of Latvia.

The applicable penalty for persons convicted of the said crimes will be up to five years in prison, community service or a fine.