Latvia removes a monument honoring the Soviet victory over the Nazis

RIGA, Aug. 23 (DPA/EP) –

Latvian authorities have begun Tuesday to destroy a monument in the capital Riga commemorating the victory of Soviet troops over the Nazis in World War II.

The workers have removed several bronze statues from this monument, protected by a screen and under the close surveillance of the Police, which has been deployed in the area to prevent possible incidents.

A resolution of the Latvian Parliament establishes the disappearance before November 15 of all monuments that honor totalitarian regimes. The text refers specifically to the Riga facility, erected in 1985, although it is not yet clear what will happen to a 79-meter-high pillar.

The monument has also traditionally served as a meeting place for citizens of Russian origin every May 9, Victory Day. About 25 percent of the Latvian population is ethnic Russian.