freedom.lv

Fenced freedom

The Feedom Monument was partly fenced this monday (March 16) caused by fears of Riga city council that ommemorative march by former members of the Latvian Waffen SS (most of them were drafted during the German occupation of Latvia and fought against the Red Army) will cause clashes. Large numbers of riot police was located nearby the monument and in oldtown.

Previously several organizations applied to march or gather near the monument on March 16 but the Riga city council banned any gatherings near the Freedom Monument. An administrative district court in Latvia has upheld a ban rejecting appeals by three different groupings seeking to hold marches or rallies on this day. Though march to commemorate members of the World War II Latvian Legion and small counterdemonstrations took place despite a ban.

Read more on this topic:

• Riga city council suspends freedom of assembly on March 16
• Court upholds March 16 assembly ban
• Banned march takes place without incident