New Latvian law equals rights of Red Army officers and SS legionaries

In the last third reading Latvian parliament members voted for the draft About Status of Participant of the Second World War, TASS reports. According to the new law, veteran Red Army officers and SS legionaries are equal in their rights. Besides, the draft leaves unattended majority of people having played an important role in liberation of Europe from Fascism.

From now and on, Second World War participants are those who had Latvian citizenship as from the date of June 17th 1940. Riga calls this day the beginning of occupation. Participants of World War II are only citizens of Latvia who were fighting against the Soviet Regime, the Third Reich and its allies in military divisions of other countries. The status of the Second World War participants will not be assigned to members of National-Socialist Labor Party of Germany, representatives of military structures of the Third Reich, collaborationists, USSR KGB employees and Latvian Soviet Social Republic members. Besides, the draft law underlines that being an occupied territory Latvia is not held responsible for military or any other actions on its territory in the period of occupation.

In opinion of the deputy of oppositional party Concord representing interests of Russian-speaking community Igor Pimenov, the new draft explicitly discriminates the larger part of the Red Army veterans.

Now the WWII participants will get only an identity document and an award pin. The authorities do not provide any social allowances for the veterans. Not more than three hundred people in Latvia can claim their rights for this status at the moment.

Russkiy Mir