This week all attention was on the NATO summit in Madrid. Member states agreed on numerous changes to the alliance’s doctrine and other defence measures.
NATO decided to expand its rapid response unit, Finland and Sweden were offered an official invitation to join the alliance, and Baltic States received promises of increased military presence. All this will be done to indicate to Russia that attacking NATO would be unwise.
The National Cultural Heritage Board, meanwhile, has composed a list of objects believed to be glorifying the Soviet union. This list contains a total of 69 objects across Latvia, the Victory Monument in Pārdaugava included.
This week all of Latvia was following the situation with Evita in Sigulda. Unfortunately, the missing five-year-old girl was found dead. Police have commenced an investigation.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Monuments to be removed; Tragedy in Sigulda; Opinion on war; Fuel in Estonia; Russia retreats; Baltic Sea security.
MONUMENTS TO BE REMOVED
Experts present Latvian government list of 69 Soviet monuments to tear down
Photo: Paula Čurkste/LETAExperts have presented Latvian government with a list of 69 objects that glorify the Soviet Union and should be removed, as journalists were told by National Cultural Heritage Board (NKMP) head Juris Dambis on Thursday, 30 June.
In total the committee composed for this task surveyed 162 objects to see if they meet the criteria listed in the law and should be removed. The survey showed that some of the objects in question are already one, have no ideological purpose or are located at burial sites.
With that the government was presented with a list of 69 objects to be removed.
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TRAGEDY IN SIGULDA
Girl missing in Sigulda found dead
Photo: UnsplashAfter almost three days, on Tuesday, 28 June, a search party composed of Latvian State Police, municipal police, National Guard and volunteers found the five-year-old girl that previously went missing in Sigulda dead.
The exact cause of death will be determined in the autopsy.
The five-year-old girl Evita went missing around 14:00 p.m. Sunday, 26 June, in Sigulda, Gaujas beach (Peldu Street).
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OPINION ON WAR
TV3 refuses to broadcast boxer Mairis Briedis’ match for his views on war in Ukraine
Latvian boxer Mairis Briedis and ice hockey player Miks Indrašis. Photo: LETA/BNN collageGO3 platform and TV3 Group refused to broadcast Latvian boxer Mairis Briedis’ match in Australia, as sportacentrs.com was told by TV3 sports department director Toms Circenis.
The platform also found that none of Latvia’s existing sports channels have any plans to broadcast Briedis’ boxing match.
The portal also reports another disappointment for Latvian sports: the Kontinental Ice Hockey League team Moscow Spartak has officially announced having signed a one-year contract with Latvian forward Miks Indrašis.
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FUEL IN ESTONIA
Petrol sales going down in Estonia
Photo: UnsplashAccording to the latest data, petrol sales in Estonia have dropped by 9% in June. The drop was the most rapid in regions bordering Latvia. It is assumed that Estonian residents travel to Latvia to purchase fuel, as reported by Estonian ERR.
«The sales volume at the beginning of June reflects the trends of the last two to three months when the sales of gasoline have fallen by 7-10 percent,» said CEO of the Estonian Oil Association Mart Raamat.
98th brand petrol sales have dropped from 44% to 38% in June, whereas the sales of the cheaper 95th brand petrol have increased.
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RUSSIAN ARMY RETREATS
Russia evacuates troops from Ukrainian Snake Island
Photo: REUTERS/SCANPIXRussia has evacuated the remainder of its garrison on Snake Island and has left this strategically important island in the Black Sea, as announced by Ukrainian Armed Forces Operational Command South on Facebook, 30 June.
Ukrainian forces report that on the night to 30 June it had conducted a missile and artillery attack on the island, «forcing the enemy to evacuate the remainder of its garrison using speedboats, abandoning the island».
Ukraine reports explosions are still heard on the island and a fire there continues. The situation remains unclear.
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BALTIC SEA SECURITY
Turkey agrees to let Sweden and Finland join NATO
Photo: Zane Bitere/LETATurkey has finally agreed to support Sweden and Finland joining NATO, as confirmed by Finnish President Sauli Niinistö on Tuesday, 28 June.
NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg reported that NATO leaders will officially invite Finland and Sweden to join the alliance this Wednesday.
This Tuesday Sweden, Finland and Turkey signed a trilateral memorandum during the summit in Madrid. This agreement «confirms that Türkiye will at the Madrid Summit this week support the invitation of Finland and Sweden to become members of NATO,» as mentioned in the Finnish president’s announcement.
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BNN summary of the week: NATO decisions. List of monuments. Tragedy in Sigulda
