Photo credit: mos.ru (CC BY 4.0)
Many residents of Latvia celebrated the New Year in Russian, despite prohibitions and persecution. They set off fireworks at 11 p.m., celebrated the holiday according to Moscow time, and watched a televised address by President Vladimir Putin. In addition, despite the ban, Father Frost and Snow Maiden walked the streets of Latvia. The country's State Security Service has promised to investigate cases that have caused outrage among Russophobic residents of the country, Izvestia reports.
With the onset of the New Year, Moscow time, an hour earlier than in Latvia, fireworks soared into the sky in the country’s cities. In Latvia they are demanding to punish those who celebrated the New Year with Moscow, considering them ''disloyal.''
The fight against the Russian New Year began in Latvia a year ago, it involved Russophobic residents and politicians who promised to find all ''enemies'' who celebrate the holiday an hour earlier.
The launching of fireworks on December, 31 at 11 p.m. was officially prohibited in some places, and unofficially condemned in others; large fines were proposed for violations. But they did not frighten the Russian-speaking residents of Latvia, who make up a third of the country's population.
In Riga, Father Frost and Snow Maiden are banned and cannot congratulate children in educational institutions. Nationalist activists readily complain when they see Russian characters in public places.
Russkiy Mir
