"The Russians are no longer waiting for." The war in Ukraine has become a catalyst for changes in Latvia. How they are deprived of Soviet and Russian in Riga. Interview
As the Latvians fight the Russian and Soviet, why they are no longer waiting for the Russians, as before, in an interview with Radio HB, the host of Latvian radio information programs 4 Julianna Skagale. Video Day - What is the symbolic importance of this monument to the Soviet soldiers in your opinion? - This monument played two completely different roles, looking for whom.
For the Latin population of our country, for Latvians, this monument was a symbol of the Soviet occupation, since it was erected in Riga 37 years ago, during the occupation of the Soviet Union. But there is another part of the population, Russian -speaking. Not for the whole part, but for some he played a completely different role. These people came to this monument annually on May 9, and during the time of the previous mayor, Nila Ushakov took place there festive events and concerts.
This situation was very painful for Latvians, because it was a pure symbol of Soviet occupation. Therefore, it cannot be said that this monument played some one role for the Latvian people, for all residents of our country. - It was also the highest monument in Riga - 79 meters. - So. - Is it something? -First, it is not only the highest monument in Riga, not only the largest monument in Latvia. It is the largest monument to the Soviet era in the Baltic States.
Therefore, of course, the event, when it was completely dismantled, glanced, I think, not only the residents of our country, but also neighboring ones, in particular in Ukraine, as I assume, they also followed it. Of course, it was the event that I was watching online, I will not be afraid, probably most of our country, because many media were broadcast. The broadcasts began yesterday at about 10 am and throughout the day people sat and watched how this 79-meter ceiling was dismantled.
At about 16:40, she fell. It happened with a roar: the stele fell into the pool, there was a splash of water, so it all looked very large. - Based on the fact that ordinary citizens were not allowed there, can we say that Latvia's authorities or local authorities Riga still worried about the fact that there could be any demonstrations, protests? - Yes, of course.
The territory around the monument was fenced not only for safety reasons - there were really dangerous construction work; But in particular because law enforcement officers, special services feared provocations. These provocations have been prepared for a very long time - it has just become known that the monument would be demolished. No one knew the specific dates when Riga began to demolish this monument.
We learned about it literally on Monday, when we started landscaping and preparation for construction work. And, of course, the special services were very prepared. The Minister of Internal Affairs of our country, the mayor of Riga, police have repeatedly warned the residents that it is not necessary to come there, it is not necessary to provoke any conflict situations. In fact, everything went very quietly. I think that law enforcement officers did not assume that everything would go so quietly.
During these days [from Monday] about 30 people were detained, which is very small. In addition, people who came to see how the dismantling was going on and to express their dissatisfaction (some still tried to put flowers in the fences), there were only a few dozen. Therefore, everything has passed, you can say, as calm as possible.
When this ceiling was already dismantled, the police in the night in social networks reported that they have information that some provocations were being prepared near the monument. There was even a photo that was driven by the waterway. Nothing of this was needed, because there were virtually no people. During the dismantling of this ceiling, many people who supported it came: they did not violate the law, simply watched in places where possible. Everything was quite calm.
- On August 22, a few days before the dismantling of this ceiling, there was a small clash of opponents of dismantling and his supporters. In this news, I saw that there was a party of the Russian Union of Latvia. She applied for a protest, the City Hall refused to satisfy it. And what about the Russian Union of Latvia? If we talk about pro -Russian politicians in Latvia, then who are they? - The Russian Union of Latvia is a party that is really called pro -Russian in our country.
She has never been in power. It is an opposition party, but in the current parliament it is not represented at all, has a fairly low ratings. Yes, they have always opposed the demolition of this monument. It is worth noting that there was no clear position on the war of Russia in Ukraine. Therefore, they have always been attached to Latin inhabitants of Latvia very, very negative.
But there is another party, which we have Russian -speaking, it is a party, they have a clear position on the war in Ukraine - they are rigidly against this war. They also opposed demolition about the monument, and the Russian Union of Latvia wanted to hold a rally against dismantling, they were not allowed by the Riga Duma again for security reasons, because they feared some confrontations and clashes. They even went to court, but the court has not yet satisfied their requirements.
- On May 12, the Latvia Seimas got rid of the legal obstacle to demolish the Soviet monuments. Previously, the Latvian-Russian Agreement was in force, which guaranteed the protection of such memorials. Why didn't it happen before you explain it? - Over the last 30 years, we have been renewed in Latvia in Latvia, then discussions have subsided, and whether we need to demolish this monument.
For the most part, the national association was the initiators of such a discussion - it is a political force represented in the government and parliament of our country, which is in a governing coalition. And even several times on the Public Initiatives portal, they have been called to demolish this monument. But politicians said it was impossible because of the contract you mentioned, according to which Latvia pledged to defend the Soviet monuments, memorials.
Everything changed dramatically on February 24, when Russia launched a war in Ukraine. Talking about the need to demolish Soviet monuments, all the memorials that glorify the Soviet regime, very quickly began to gain momentum. At that time, it became clear that most likely the monument would really be demolished, because lawyers and parliament and the government worked on this project. As a result, the government has decided to demolish 69 monuments.
In total, there are about 300 such Soviet objects in our country, but the experts' commission - the management of the National Cultural Heritage of Latvia, the Latvian Union of Artists, the Latvia Occupation Museum is specially convened. According to certain criteria, they decided which objects should be dismantled. And from three hundred 69 were elected, the Cabinet of Ministers approved them. The catalyst of this process is certainly war in Ukraine.
- We are really grateful to our friends from the Baltic countries for their support. We didn't even expect it to be so tangible. One of the topics I want to discuss with you is the restriction of tourist visas. Baltic countries are in favor of such a pan -European restriction. How do they discuss this topic inside Latvia? A lot of Russians left Russia through Latvia in particular. - This is a very difficult and difficult question, because there are many legal nuances.
We still do not fully understand which of the Russians, Belarusians who are in Latvia, have a temporary residence permit, will be able to really count on its continuation. It is clear that each case will be evaluated individually: the Putin Kremlin regime supports a person, does not support. But in general, this discussion in Latvia is now very active, especially from the Russians who have come here, may have been living for several years that have been running away from the Putin regime.
They are now in a suspended state, do not understand what will happen to them. For some of the Russians who are here at the residence permit, returning to Russia can be simply dangerous in connection with new laws adopted in Russia - "discrediting the Russian army" and so on. Therefore, there are more questions for journalists than answers. All these amendments to the law are now under development.
It is planned that, perhaps next week, the government will start considering them and then some details will be clear. - And how do Latvian authorities comment on this? What do they match? - Representatives of the authorities believe that the Russians cannot now have such privileges as before, and when their country is leading a war in the territory of Ukraine, to travel the European Union, to go here for shopping. This is the main, perhaps, installation. But at the same time, they are aware . . .
We have communicated with one politician from a governing party, who said that we would not expel those people who, for example, are political refugees or who are truly dangerous in Russia or Belarus. I suspect they have to evaluate each of these cases. But it is clear that it will not be as before. Here they are no longer waiting for the Russians as it was before the war. Even at a residence permit when they were eligible to obtain a permit for the purchase of real estate.