The monument in Pārdaugava – Victory Monument, Occupation Monument, Occupation Pole – will be demolished. Due to Russia’s war Latvia’s Saeima decided to terminate the binding agreement that prevented its demolition, and Riga City Council has decided this needs to be done by November 2022. The 4th May Declaration Club’s manager Velta Čeboratenoka stressed in a conversation with a BNN journalist that the monument must be liquidated as soon as possible to avoid lawsuits.
«We [4th May Declaration Club] are in favour of demolition happening as soon as possible to prevent any major lawsuits during which we might miss some opposing opinions.»
Čebotarenoka is also confident the monument will definitely be demolished this year. «The main problem is the peak, which is a very strong structure. It has metallic structures in the middle mixed with concrete, and the height of the peak is 8 m. Two metres will need to be sawed off slowly and carefully. Once the crew reaches six metres, then it will be possible to consider demolishing the rest. If it is knocked off from 8 m height, there is a risk of damaging the pavement. Since it is a residential district, using explosives would not be safe.»
Čebotarenoka is one of the members of the Supreme Council that voted in favour of restoration of Latvia’s independence. When asked about what it was like, she said: «We had successfully demolished the monument to Lenin (on the intersection of Elizabetes and Brīvības street). On 4 May we replaced the plaque on the Saeima building to indicate it is no longer the Supreme Council of LSSR, rather the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia.»
As for why the monument in Pārdaugava was not demolished as well, the ex-deputy says that after restoration of independence there was still an occupational military presence in Latvia. «We could not do more, because it was very important to drive out the Soviet Army, so that they peacefully leave Latvia. Had they not, we would have lost our independence again sooner or later, which is proven by the war in Ukraine.» She also reminds that in 1997 members of Pērkonkrusts Latvian ultranationalist and extremist movement attempted to blow up the monument – two of this organisation’s members were killed by their own explosives. «After this event the Russian Embassy started paying more attention to this monument. The situation then changed and a mutual memorandum was signed. Now that there is a war, this legal agreement has lost its legal power, because in the event of a war, when one country fails to fulfill its promise, the document loses its power,» she claims.
Čebotarenoka also says about the time after restoration of independence that she was in Jurmala at the time: «The first thing we did was remove the cannon from the pedestal. This is why I am confused why other municipalities hesitated.»
«Latvia is full of weeds left from the occupation.»
She said there are approximately 360 Soviet monuments and plaques remaining all over Latvia.
In regards to these monuments left from the Soviet era, following the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the 4th May Declaration Club sent a letter to the Saeima, explaining that the biggest monument in Pārdaugava and other monuments and plaques must be removed in the entire country. «If there is still some aircraft left, like the one in Spilva, it needs to be demolished. You see, that’s the madness we have there. If there is some tank remaining – it needs to be liquidated as well.»
«When we found out local administrations in Daugavpils and Rezekne are against the demolishing of Soviet monuments, we were shocked and expressed all of our opinions and shock over the audacity to question and doubt demolition [of Soviet monuments],» said Čebotarenoka.
«I cannot imagine Germany to allow some symbols or monuments of Nazi Germany. Unfortunately, after 32 years of independence there are still Soviet monuments remaining in Latvia.»
She said she welcomes the initiative taken by Ogre municipal council, for example, which did not way for any special permit or law and simply removed the Soviet monuments located within their territory.
The manager told BNN that the club has sent a letter to the Office of the Prosecutor General regarding Gundars Kalvis – the man who one and a half years ago removed the cannon that served as a Soviet monument from Jekabpils central street. «We believe he should be considered a hero, not be prosecuted. It was a brave and patriotically correct step. We will not calm down until clarity is accomplished, especially now that Gundars Kalvis fights in the war in Ukraine, defending the country.» Čebotarenoka notes that the so far the club has received notification that the letter has been received. «We are very interested in hearing the Office of the Prosecutor General’s decision.»
When asked if there is a risk of demolition of the monument in Pārdaugava dividing society, the ex-deputy stresses: «I am of the absolutely opposite opinion, because those who consider it a holiday have never been together with residents of independent Latvia and have never respected Latvia’s language, nation and culture.»
«These people broke away on their own when they come and celebrate 9 May at a pole where no one is buried, instead of going to honour their ancestors at a cemetery, which would have been normal. This madness was built using my money as well. No one asked my opinion at the time. They simply notified me and took money from my wage to build that monument.»
She says: «Times change, a new generation has come that will, if inclined, to go to cemeteries and honour their grandparents there. I would gladly go with them to show them the places in Riga where their relatives are buried, because they are in need of maintenance. There is a whole part of society that can do it but doesn’t. They would rather go gave fun, enjoy fireworks in Riga instead of places of remembrance at cemeteries. I do not understand how people can act in such a way.»
«Society needs to change for the better and understand the values of this country and what is sacred to Latvia’s nation.»