President expects Latvia's ethnic Russians to also back removal of monument to Soviet army

• Published date: 03 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

RIGA, May 3 (LETA) - President Egils Levits expects Latvia's ethnic Russians to also join calls for the removal of the Soviet-era monument in Victory Park.

Levits said in an interview with TV3 channel on Tuesday that the memorial to the Soviet army in Pardaugava, Riga, has always been a "splinter in the Latvian soul" as it glorifies the occupying army that brought great suffering to Latvia. The issue has become even more pressing as the same army that once occupied Latvia is now waging war and committing crimes in Ukraine.

"I see no other option than to dismantle this monument or to get rid of it in some other way," the president said, stressing that this is also the position supported by a majority of Latvia's people.

Levits would be glad...