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Latvia to impose ban on Nazi and Soviet symbols by VE-Day

The bill will go into force after it is approved by the Latvian Seim and after the Latvian president signs the bill into law

RIGA, April 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Latvia is hastily preparing to enact a bill by the VE-Day celebrations that bans the circulation of Nazi, former Soviet symbols and the symbols of the former Soviet Latvia during public holidays, sport competitions, show programs and other public events. A profile commission of the Latvian Seim has approved the proposed amendments on Wednesday.

Until now the Nazi and the former Soviet symbols had been outlawed during rallies, pickets and marches, but the ban had not applied to holidays, entertainments, commemoration and sport events.

Following incidents during the Waffen SS commemoration events in Latvia on March 16 the Unity Association headed by Latvian Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis suggested in the run-up to the VE-Day celebrations imposing a ban on the use of the Soviet and Nazi symbols during all public events.

The bill will go into force after it is approved by the Latvian Seim and after the Latvian president signs the bill into law.

May 9 is not an official holiday in Latvia, but the Russian-speaking population, which account for around 40 percent of the overall population, celebrate Victory Day on May 9.

Every year around 200,000 people gather at the Monument to the Soviet Soldiers in Riga, lay flowers and wreaths to its foundation and congratulate WWII veterans.

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