by slaboymni
Thu Mar 16th, 2006 at 01:16:49 PM EST
Latvian SS march sparks clashes
I had read in various Latvian press briefings that this year would be different <sigh>. It was not...
SS veterans' marches cause outrage among Russian-speakers in Latvia
Latvia police have made dozens of arrests after pro-Russian activists tried to bloc a march of SS veterans and young nationalists in Riga.
The veterans had fought against Soviet troops on the side of Hitler's Germany in World War II.
The march in the capital was sanctioned by the Latvian authorities and took place amidst heavy police presence.
From the diaries, hoping to draw out Latvian commentary ~ whataboutbob
But it was interrupted by skirmishes which broke out as marchers came across the anti-fascists' human chain.
The protesters, mostly from the pro-Russian Rodina or Motherland organisation, were wearing striped clothes and yellow stars of David in a reference to the SS atrocities in Latvia, which lost 90% of its Jewish population in World War II.
Former members of the Latvian Waffen SS Legion, formed during the German occupation of Latvia, have been staging similar events since the country regained independence in 1991.
The resurgence of SS veterans is causing outrage among Latvia's large Russian-speaking population, which includes ethnic Jews.
Russian reaction to the annual Latvian Waffen SS parade
From the article above:
The Russian television station, TVC, aired a documentary called "Fascism in the Baltics", despite protests from Latvian officials. A Russian deputy of the Seim (parliament) who participated in the film (Nikolai Kabanov) was kicked off the International Affairs Committee in retaliation.
I can understand freedom of assembly/speech, etc., but having sitting members of parliament participate? And in the past the prime minister has marched?