Preparations for the removal of Soviet Victory Monument in Riga have commenced, as reported by Riga City Council.
On Monday, 22 August, authorities in Riga started preparing the construction site at Victory Park in order to commence the removal of the Soviet Victory Monument complex. It is planned to install fences around the construction site. Pedestrian and road traffic restrictions will come next and will be announced separately.
A press-conference will be held on 4th floor of Riga City Council at 10:00 a.m. The latest information regarding the progress with the monument’s removal will be reported there. The event will be attended by Riga’s executive director Jānis Lange and deputy chief of Latvian State Police Main Public Order Police Department Ansis Pumpurs.
The report from the State Security Service (VDD) mentions that provocations are still possible with the situation with the removal of the Soviet Victory Monument complex. Authorities expect pro-Kremlin residents to interfere or impede with the procedure.
VDD monitors the situation with the monument’s removal.
To assess risks to state security, VDD also looks are monument-dismantling developments in Latvia and abroad.
On 5 August Riga City Council Financial and Administrative Affairs Committee approved the decision on allocation of funding towards the removal of the monument dedicated to the Soviet army.
The construction company was picked in a closed selection procedure. Although the company is picked, it’s name is kept secret, as there is a special security procedure in place to ensure safety of the demolition procedure and avoid possible provocations.
It is planned to spend around EUR 2.1 million on this monument’s demolition.
The EUR 268 383 collected from public donations will be used as well. This money is planned to finance landscaping after the monument has been removed. The state will finance up to 50% of all related costs.
Considering the time the government gave to remove the monument, the hired construction company will not use conventional demolition methods.
It is likely the monument will be demolished by pulling it down.
The question of whether or not Latvia has any room for monuments dedicated to the Soviet Army became a hot topic after the start of Russian- Ukrainian war. Discussions of this topic concluded with Latvia’s Saeima passing the law that states monuments dedicated to the Soviet regime and not located within burial areas are to be removed from Latvia’s territory by 15 November.
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