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Minister Rasnacs to attend March 16 memorial event at Lestene

BC, Riga, 05.03.2015.Print version

Latvian Justice Minister Dzintars Rasnacs (VL-TB/LNNK) will attend March 16 memorial events at the Lestene Cemetery, but will lay flowers at the Freedom Monument in Riga outside work hours.

 

As LETA was informed by the minister's spokesman Andris Vitenburgs, Rasnacs will ''honor fallen Latvian legionnaires and their faith in fighting for a free Latvia'' at the Lestene Cemetery on March 16. He also said that the minister will lay flowers at the Freedom Monument ''outside work hours''.

 

At the same time, Rasnacs emphasized that it is the duty of any state officials to explain that both of the occupying powers – the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, violated the 1907 Hague Convention by illegally mobilizing occupied Latvian citizens into their armies.

 

As reported, Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma (Unity) is confident that that government ministers will not participate in March 16 events by the Freedom Monument this year.

 

''All ministers agree and understand that we honor our fallen soldiers on November 11,'' said Straujuma, adding that there are no differences of opinion on this matter amongst government ministers.

 

She reminded that those who wish to honor fallen legionnaires can go to the Lestene Cemetery, which some ministers have already said that they intend to do. This means that ministers will not be participating in provocative March 16 events.

 

LETA reported, an official decision on whether to forbid government minister to attend March 16 events at the Freedom Monument has not yet been made, however, politicians unofficially admit that participation in this year's event could cost ministers their Cabinet seat, just like last year.





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