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Russia hopes for consultations with Latvia on human rights issues — diplomat

Russia has already urged international organizations to give a proper assessment to Latvia’s commemorations in honor of Waffen-SS veterans and influence the Latvian authorities

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and Supremacy of Law Konstantin Dolgov Anton Novoderezhkin/ITAR-TASS

Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and Supremacy of Law Konstantin Dolgov

© Anton Novoderezhkin/ITAR-TASS

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Russia calls for proper assessment of Waffen-SS commemorations in Latvia

MOSCOW, March 17. /TASS/. Moscow hopes to hold soonest consultations with Riga on human rights and protection of the Russian-speaking population of Latvia in connection with the latest march of Latvian veterans of Waffen-SS units, Russian Foreign Ministry’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and Supremacy of Law Konstantin Dolgov told Vesti FM radi station on Thursday.

"We expect soonest consultations with Latvian colleagues on humanitarian and legal issues. We will, of course, raise this issue, as well as many other issues connected with mass infringement on the rights of Russian-speaking residents, many of which are still ‘non-citizens’ in this country," Dolgov said.

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According to the commissioner, such events are shameful not only for Latvia but also for the whole European Union as such marches contradict the results of Nuremberg Trials. "Such marches are absolutely shameful. This is a stain not only on Latvia but on the whole EU, let’s be frank. We once again say that no on cancelled the ruling of the Nuremberg Tribunal, and they say in response that this is the freedom of expression," Dolgov added.

The Latvian Legion was a formation of the Waffen-SS during World War II created in 1943 and consisting primarily of ethnic Latvian soldiers. The legion consisted of two divisions. After Latvia stopped being part of the Soviet Union, March 16 for several years remained an official Remembrance Day.

However, after a march of SS-men through the center of the Latvian capital caused outrage in Russia and in the West, the decision was made to delete it from the list of commemorative dates.

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Foreign policy Russian Foreign Ministry Latvia Human rights

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