"We will go from the church to the Freedom Monument to lay flowers, then we will go to Lestene, and others have no right to interfere here!" This is what Andrejs Mežmalis, the head of the association Daugavas Vanagi in Latvia, says. Unfortunately, the "others" are already planning to intervene. The same pro-Kremlin provocateurs who call themselves anti-Nazis but, by supporting Russia's invasion of Ukraine and longing for the days of Latvia's occupation, are as bad or worse than Nazis, fascists and all communists put together.
Two events have been announced for March 16 at Riga City Hall. One is traditionally organized by the association Daugavas Vanagi in Latvia, as every year, and the event has been coordinated with the municipality. This is their day - former legionnaires and their relatives. The Daugavas Vanagi organization was founded by former soldiers of the Latvian Legion after the end of the Second World War in the British-run prisoner of war camp in Zedelgem, Belgium. Latvian legionnaires who were conscripted into the armed forces of the occupying Germany are officially recognized as victims of war. The Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War of August 12, 1949, states that "the Occupying Power may not compel protected persons to serve in its armed or auxiliary forces. No pressure or propaganda which aims at securing voluntary enlistment is permitted." The Convention thus protects those persons who, in the event of armed conflict or occupation, are at the time and in whatever form under the authority of the belligerent or occupying power, of which they are not nationals. This is about the Daugavas Vanagi, which always tries to keep its members' memorial ceremony as discreet as possible. Without scandals, without huge publicity. With respect and reverence for history.
But there is another side to March 16 - the scandalous and loud side, maintained by the Kremlin and its agents of influence. Who claims that Nazis are marching in the streets in Latvia and justifying crimes against humanity. Basically, the same claims that the Russian Federation uses to justify its bloody and criminal invasion of Ukraine. And, lo and behold, the justifiers of this Kremlin policy and invasion are preparing to hold a counter-event on March 16. The Latvian Anti-Nazi Committee, which is basically a satellite of the Latvian Russian Union (Latvijas Krievu savienība) party, with Aleksandrs Giļmans and Aleksejs Šaripovs at its head. Both of these men are well known to the State Security Service. Both have been forced to make excuses many times for anti-state propaganda, incitement to national hatred, and both are proud of it. Giļmans has also been tried.
There have been years when the Riga administration allowed "anti-Nazis" to come quite close to the Legionaries' memorial march and disrupt it, and physical conflicts broke out. There have been years when "anti-Nazis" were given a place on Bastejkalns or even further away, out of sight, and were also banned from using sound amplifiers. Nobody was interested in them except the Kremlin propaganda media; it was not in their power to provoke a riot over such a large distance. Last year, March 16 was saved from pro-Kremlin rhetoric by pandemic restrictions. People came individually to the Freedom Monument, laid flowers. No one shouted at them, no one cursed them, no "anti-Nazis" in striped pajamas hassled them.
The Daugavas Vanagi march will start at 11:00 after the service at St. John's Church. The Kremlin's "anti-Nazis" have applied to rally right next door on Skārņu Street in front of St. Peter's Church. With such close proximity, conflicts and physical clashes would be almost inevitable. Therefore, the decision of the city management not to approve the rally is reasonable and responsible. Neatkarīgā found out from the Riga City Council that the municipality has issued an administrative act banning the rally from taking place at the announced location. This was done on the basis of the security authorities' concerns about possible threats to public order and security. At the same time, the Kremlin's "anti-Nazis" were not completely deprived of the right to rally. They have been offered two other places to rally - either at Uzvaras Park in Pārdaugava or at the memorial to the victims of Nazism in Rumbula. If the "anti-Nazis" are interested in more than just showing off and provoking, they will be able to rally there; if not, they will be able to go to court and challenge the administrative act signed by the Executive Director of the Riga City Council. However, they will not be allowed to preach pro-Kremlin ideas in the center of Riga, disrupting the commemoration of the Latvian Legionnaires.
If anyone needs a refresher on what Legionnaires' Remembrance Day is and why this date is used to denigrate Latvia year after year, here is an informative piece prepared by Latvian historians: MARCH 16.
But there is another sensitive date ahead. May 9, on which a part of Latvian society celebrates our country's enslavement under the Soviet yoke. This celebration traditionally takes place in Pārdaugava, where the "Monument to Soviet Soldiers - Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from German Fascist Invaders" is located. They celebrate with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, with a speech by Vladimir Putin on a giant screen, singing songs of praise to the Red Army. And this is the same army that murdered and deported the Latvian people to Siberia. It is the same army that is currently murdering the Ukrainian people.
The Minister of the Interior, Marija Golubeva, has announced that those who want to will be allowed to place flowers on May 9 (at the "Monument to Soviet Soldiers - Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from German Fascist Invaders"). Just like on March 16 at the Freedom Monument. But "a militarized demonstration or a demonstration glorifying military aggression would certainly not be allowed".
Until the pandemic, such a demonstration took place every year on May 9, and with the active support of the Russian Federation and the Riga City Council.
The occupation festival - with music, vodka, snacks and fireworks at the end.