Riga lawmakers have voted in favour of demolishing the monument “to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders” located in Victory Park in the Latvian capital, leta.lv news portal reports.
A total of 39 legislators voted in favour of the bill, while 13 voted against it. One lawmaker abstained, and seven were absent from the parliament session.
On May 12, the Latvian parliament approved the bill amending a 1994 agreement between Latvia and Russia on the preservation of Soviet-era monuments in the country. On May 13, a protest was held in the centre of Riga by those opposing the demolition of the monument.
The monument was erected in 1985 in Victory Park in the historic centre of Riga. Local officials started to discuss its demolition following the Victory Day celebrations.
A photo exhibition dubbed “Glory to Ukraine — Glory to Heroes” was opened in Victory Park on May 2. The exhibition shows photographs from Bucha and other Ukrainian cities affected by the Russian invasion.
