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Over 170,000 people take part in Victory Day celebrations in Riga

May 9 is not an official holiday in Latvia but many people, mostly Russian-speaking residents of the country (around 40% of the total population) celebrate Victory Day

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RIGA, May 10. /TASS/. Around 170,000 people took part in celebrations of Victory Day in Riga on May 8-9, chairman of the board of the Latvian public organization "9may.lv" Vadim Barannik told TASS on Tuesday.

"Around 170,000 people participated in celebrations near the Victory Memorial to Soviet Army on May 8-9. Everything went well. This year the police issued much less reports on public order violations. People celebrated this date, celebrated the Great Victory," Barannik said.

On Monday wreaths were laid to the monument by veterans, Russian Ambassador to Latvia Alexander Veshnyakov, parliamentarians, representatives of embassies of CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries and China, activists from public organizations. The ceremony was traditionally led by Riga Mayor Nils Usakovs. Over 500 artists and musicians from Latvia and other countries took part in the concert.

May 9 is not an official holiday in Latvia but many people, mostly Russian-speaking residents of the country (around 40% of the total population) celebrate Victory Day. Tens of thousands of people gather near the Victory Memorial to Soviet Army on this day to lay wreaths and congratulate veterans.

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Victory Day parade on Red Square

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