The UN Headquarters. Photo credit: tvc.ru (fragment)
The UN has forbidden the Latvian authorities to dismantle the Monument to the Liberators in Riga. Besides that, the country no longer can destroy parts of the monument that have already been demolished. The relevant decision was made by the UN's Human Rights Committee, Lenta.ru reports.
The UN did not allow any work to be carried out at the facility until the organization made a final decision regarding it. The UN also instructed Riga to ensure the safety of those parts of the monument that have already been demolished, while the appeal was being considered by the Committee.
In early August, the Riga City Council approved the allocation of two million euros for the demolition of the monument. The head of Riga, Mārtiņš Stakis, said that the memorial allegedly had no artistic value, and was being dismantled and disposed of for that reason.
The Latvian police detained almost 30 people, who protested agaisnt the demolition of the monument.
The monument to the Liberators of Riga was opened in 1985. 100,000 Soviet soldiers and officers gave their lives for the freedom of Latvia.
Russkiy Mir
