This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/russia/575336-eu-capital-demolish-monument-pushkin/

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
EU capital to demolish monument to acclaimed writer Pushkin EU capital to demolish monument to Pushkin
(about 8 hours later)
Latvian MPs in Riga reportedly claimed sculpture could become a gathering spot for people celebrating USSR’s victory over Nazism Latvian MPs reportedly claim the sculpture could become a gathering spot for people celebrating the USSR’s victory over Nazism
The city council of Latvia’s capital Riga voted on Tuesday to demolish a monument to famous Russian 19th century poet Alexander Pushkin, Vice Mayor Linda Ozola said on Facebook. The city council of the Latvian capital, Riga voted on Tuesday to demolish a monument to 19th century Russian poet Alexander Pushkin, Vice Mayor Linda Ozola said on Facebook.
“Pushkin’s days in the Kronvalda Park are numbered,” Ozola wrote on her Facebook page, referring to the city center park that hosts the statue of the Russian poet, who lived from 1799 to 1837 and is a major figure in Russian literature. “Pushkin’s days in the Kronvalda Park are numbered,” Ozola wrote on Facebook, referring to the city center park that hosts the statue of the Russian poet, who lived from 1799 to 1837 and is a major figure in Russian literature.
The vice mayor also branded the sculpture, which was gifted by the Russian embassy in Latvia in 2009 and placed in the park with the aid of the former Riga mayor, Nils Ushakovs, an “illegally installed monument.” The vice mayor also called the sculpture – which was given as gift by the Russian Embassy in Latvia in 2009 and placed in the park with the aid of former Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs – an “illegally installed monument.”
The statue “should disappear” from the city landscape and should be removed “promptly,” the vice mayor added. Ozola, a member of the conservative Kods Rigai party, was one of four local MPs behind the initiative to take down the monument. The statue “should disappear” from the city landscape and should be “promptly” removed, the vice mayor added. Ozola, a member of the conservative Kods Rigai party, was one of four local MPs behind the initiative to take down the monument.
The Kods Rigai MPs earlier called on the 60-deputy city council to remove the monument before May 4, Delfi reported on Tuesday.The Kods Rigai MPs earlier called on the 60-deputy city council to remove the monument before May 4, Delfi reported on Tuesday.
The MPs reportedly argued that it could become a gathering spot for people celebrating the victory over Nazism in World War II on May 9 – a day traditionally celebrated in Russia. Those people could also bring flowers to the monument, the MPs argued, according to Delfi. The MPs reportedly argued that it could become a gathering spot for people celebrating the victory over Nazism in World War II on May 9 – the day celebrated as Victory Day in Russia. These people could also bring flowers to the monument, the MPs argued, according to Delfi.
Earlier, Ozola reportedly branded the Pushkin monument a “symbol of Russian imperialism” that was used by the Russian embassy as a “soft power and propaganda tool.” Earlier, Ozola reportedly called the Pushkin monument a “symbol of Russian imperialism” which was used by the Russian Embassy as a “soft power and propaganda tool.”
According to Delfi, the city council has agreed only to move the monument from the central Kronvalda Park to another place. Yet, neither this new spot nor the timing of the monument’s relocation have been determined, Delfi said. According to Delfi, the city council has agreed only to move the monument from the central Kronvalda Park to another place. However, neither the new location nor the timing have been determined, Delfi said.
Since gaining independence from the USSR, Latvia has increasingly viewed the Soviet-era monuments on its territory as symbols of oppression. In May 2022, the Baltic state’s government voted to remove all Soviet-era monuments by a November 15 deadline, citing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Since gaining independence from the USSR, Latvia has increasingly viewed Soviet-era monuments as symbols of oppression. In May 2022, the Baltic state’s government voted to remove all Soviet-era monuments by a November 15 deadline, citing the conflict in Ukraine.
In August 2022, authorities in Riga destroyed a major Soviet memorial commemorating the liberation of Latvia and its capital from the Nazis in World War II. That move came despite a warning from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) to stop its demolition. Riga then claimed that the UN decision came too late, adding that the OHCHR is “not a court” and its opinions are “not legally binding.” In August 2022, the authorities in Riga destroyed a Soviet memorial commemorating the liberation of Latvia and its capital from the Nazis in World War II. This came despite a warning from the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) to stop the demolition. Riga claimed that the UN decision came too late, adding that the OHCHR is “not a court” and its opinions are “not legally binding.”
The ongoing conflict between Moscow and Kiev also saw tensions rising between the Latvian authorities and that nation’s sizable Russian minority, which amounts to around a quarter of its total population. Last year, Latvian President Egils Levits said that people there of Russian heritage whose loyalty to the government is questionable should be “isolated from society.” The conflict between Moscow and Kiev has also seen rising tensions between the Latvian authorities and the nation’s sizable Russian minority, which is around a quarter of the total population. Last year, Latvian President Egils Levits said that people of Russian heritage whose loyalty to the government is questionable should be “isolated from society.”