While the Kremlin continues to whine internationally about the Soviet army cannon that disappeared in Jēkabpils, the news of the monument to Latvian riflemen destroyed in St. Petersburg, Russia, is taken as something obvious. Even in the Latvian media environment, interest is minimal. Only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has turned its attention to the investigation of this month-old event and admits that what has happened is disrespectful to Latvia.
Public statements or notes, as Russia has done concerning its cannon, thus far haven't been released by Latvia. However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' response to Neatkarīgā contains a diplomatically strong message and a promise not to ignore what happened:
"In response to your question on March 8, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs that it is currently verifying the information you have provided and will respond accordingly. As it is currently possible to conclude from the public information, the mentioned memorial site in Russia is not the subject of interstate agreements between Latvia and Russia, however, what has happened is not acceptable to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We believe that such an action against a memorial site dedicated to Latvian riflemen clearly demonstrates Russia's growing disrespect for the victims of war and Latvia."
Neatkarīgā has already reported that “a monument to Latvian riflemen was dismantled in Russia” and it happened exactly a month before the Jēkabpils cannon was drowned in the Daugava. So, when it comes to vandalism, Russia took this radical step first. The case of Jēkabpils was not a response to what happened in Russia, because in Latvia the news about the dismantled monument to Latvian riflemen appeared only in the Russian Internet environment, while it did not appear in the media at all.
However, there are some parallels between the disappearance of the cannon and the stele. Firstly, it was a private initiative in both cases. The monument to Latvian riflemen in St. Petersburg, on Latvian Riflemen Street, was created and erected by the house management company Городские Инновационные Технологии (City Innovation Technologies). Erected, despite the refusal of the city administration. The stone stele was not legally designed as a monument, but as a landscaping element of the courtyard. Significantly, even the Kremlin's propaganda resource Sputnik later reported in a positive light about this private initiative and the erection of the monument.
The place to honor the memory of Latvian riflemen was indeed chosen very unsuccessfully. A gloomy monument in the yard of an apartment house with a fun playground for children in the background. However, this was the private understanding of the need to explain history and perpetuate the memory of Latvian riflemen. Here is how this initiative was justified in the statement of the company Городские Инновационные Технологии: "The monument will remind present and future generations of the heroic deeds and military merits of Latvian riflemen in the First and Second World Wars. The creation of such a monument - now, at a time when history is being rewritten under the influence of political forces and the fraternal nations are tried to be made into enemies, when the common heroic past is being forgotten, is especially important.” They decided and went for it. To the best of their ability.
In a way, something similar happened in Jēkabpils. Private initiative - decided and went for it. Only in the wrong way. Most likely, the local patriots were encouraged to take such radical action when on February 23, the former Day of the Soviet Army, many flowers had been laid at the foot of the cannon. There are still people who feel nostalgic for the occupation regime. Meanwhile, Latvians have been thinking for years that such occupation artifacts must be removed. At least the weapons symbolizing aggression. It has been debated even at the government level, but ministers have remained helpless against the Kremlin's long reach. Then the people of Jēkabpils decided to help the government out.
How did the monument disappear in St. Petersburg? It was removed by a court decision and a blessing from the authorities. In the middle of the day, an excavator arrived and leveled the granite stele. Broke the stele from the base, threw it into the cargo box and sent it away along with all the Kremlin's extolled respect for history. Only the reinforcement bars remained in the ground. No regrets.
There is a lot of talk in the Latvian media about the cannon that was drowned in the Daugava. There are opinions from the municipality, the police, politicians.
At the same time, Latvians are asymmetrically silent about the monument to Latvian riflemen destroyed in Russia. But if there is no symmetry in the war, no war will take place. Just such a cowardly surrender.
*****
Be the first to read interesting news from Latvia and the world by joining our Telegram and Signal channels.