An anti-war rally was held in the Latvian capital of Riga on Saturday. About 1,000 people attended the rally.
Protesters carried signs with demands to stop the war in Ukraine and to recognize Russian President Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. Many of those in attendance carried Ukrainian flags, as well as white-blue-white flags, used by Russian protesters as a symbol of opposition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The rally began with the Latvian and Ukrainian national anthems, performed by Latvian musician Katrina Gupalo.
“Novaya Gazeta. Europe”
A number of public figures spoke at the rally, including Russian documentary film director Vitaly Mansky, actress Chulpan Khamatova, doctor of law and professor of the Free University Elena Lukyanova, Editor-in-Chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe Kirill Martynov, and other Russian and Latvian activists.
“Novaya Gazeta. Europe”
“Novaya Gazeta. Europe”
A number of public figures spoke at the rally, including Russian documentary film director Vitaly Mansky, actress Chulpan Khamatova, doctor of law and professor of the Free University Elena Lukyanova, Editor-in-Chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe Kirill Martynov, and other Russian and Latvian activists.
“This is a “No to War” rally. Of course, we say “no to war,” because there is no way we can say “yes to war.” We can’t ever say that, under any pretext, we can’t say yes to the pain of others, to the death of others, to hurting children, to bringing them harm. It is impossible. It is a distortion of reality that my homeland has ended up in,” Khamatova said. “I know for sure that many people in Russia feel the same pain because of what is happening in Ukraine right now, because of this inhuman war started by Vladimir Putin and the Russian government.”
