20 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Parliament of Latvia –Saeima– has approved this Thursday a law for the prohibition of certain public events on May 9, the date on which Russia celebrates Victory Day in commemoration of the Soviet victory against Nazi Germany.
As detailed by the Latvian Parliament in a statement, “on May 9 it will be prohibited to hold public performances and festive events, meetings, marches and pickets in open-air public spaces throughout Latvia.”
According to the president of the Saeima Human Rights and Public Affairs Commission, Ieva Brante, this date is used by society to “glorify totalitarian and occupation regimes.”
“We are interested in preventing events that undermine our values, divide society, glorify military aggression and promote false coverage of historical events,” Brante acknowledged.
However, on May 9 – the date on which Europe Day is also celebrated, promoted by the European Union – events may take place that “do not conflict with the objective established by law”, as clarified by the Saeima.
These other events may not endanger the interests of the State or public security, at the same time they must not harbor messages of contempt for Latvian values or democracy, as well as avoid all kinds of exaltation of the war and support for the military aggression.
“On May 9 it will be possible to hold events to show solidarity with the Ukrainian people and remember those who suffered and died in Ukraine,” adds the Latvian Parliament, adding that the use of pyrotechnic material will be prohibited throughout the day.
With this new legislation, the Latvian Parliament seeks to avoid any kind of show of support for Russia and its invasion of Ukraine on a day in which the pro-Russian population has historically shown its support for Moscow.
Since the outbreak of the war, at the end of February 2022, Latvia together with its Baltic neighbors – Estonia and Lithuania – have intensified their efforts to distance themselves from all traces of their historical period under Soviet influence.
