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Latvian court tells Riga City Hall to bring apologies to SS veterans

In the meantime the City Hall plans launching an appeal

RIGA, November 24 (Itar-Tass) — Administrative district court in Riga on Friday answered a lawsuit by the organization of the Latvian Waffen SS legion -- Daugavas Vanagi /The Hawks of the Daugava/ -- against the Riga City Hall and told the latter to bring public apologies to the SS veterans for an unlawful prohibition of their traditional annual march in downtown Riga March 16, 2011.

The court ruling was revealed to reporters by Inese Deme, an assistant to the Chief Justice.

She said that Daugavas Vanagi also demand a compensation for moral damage in the amount of $ 10,000, but the court turned the demand down.

The City Hall is expected to publish the apologies in local dailies within a month after the court's ruling takes effect. Under the Latvian law, the City Hall can appeal the ruling at Latvia's Supreme Court within a period of 30 days.

Ugis Vidauskis, a spokesman for public relations, told reporters in the meantime the City Hall plans launching an appeal.

"We believe were acted on the grounds of law upon getting conclusions of law enforcement agencies, which said these functions might pose danger to public law and order," he said. "That's why the City Hall doesn't find the court's ruling to be correct."

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