"While the Kremlin still complains about the Soviet artillery gun missing in Ekabpils, the news of the destruction of the monument to Latvian shooters in the Russian St. Petersburg was perceived as proper. In the Latvian media, interest in this fact was minimal. Only the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted a study This, the monthly date of the case, and stated that what happened is disrespect for Latvia, writes Neatkarīga.
Public statements or notes, which sent Russia due to the disappearance of his gun, did not do from Latvia. However, the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contains a promise to not ignore what happened: "How at present it is possible to conclude from publicly available information, the memorial complex in Russia is not subject to international agreements between Latvia and Russia, but what happened is unacceptable for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. We believe that such actions in relation to the memorial dedicated to the Latvian shooters clearly demonstrate the growing disrespect of Russia to the victims of war and Latvia. "
The monument to Latvian arrows in Russia was dismantled about a month before the gun was disappeared in Ekabpils. That is, if we are talking about vandalism, then Russia has taken this radical step first. The happening in Ekabpils was not the answer to the happening in Russia, because in Latvia the news about the dismantling of the monument to the Latvian shooters appeared only on the Internet, in the media, never hitting.
However, in the disappearance, steles and cannons can be held certain parallels. First, in both cases it was a private initiative. The monument to Latvian arrows in St. Petersburg on the street of Latvian shooters was created and established by the house management "City Innovative Technologies". Installed, despite the ban of the city administration. Stone stele was legally framed not as a monument, but as a landscaping of the courtyard.
The place, in order to honor the memory of the Latvian shooters, was indeed chosen too successfully. The gloomy monument in the courtyard of an apartment building and on the background of a cheerful playground. However, at that time, a private desire was so expressed to clarify the story and perpetuate the memory of Latvian arrows.
This is how this initiative was justified in the statement of the company "City Innovative Technologies": "The monument will remind these and future generations about the achievements and combat merits of Latvian shooters in the first and second world wars. The creation of such a monument is particularly relevant now when history is rewritten under the influence of political forces and fraternal peoples are trying to turn them into enemies when the general heroic past is forgotten. " Decided and did. As they understood and how they were taught.
Without symmetry only concessions
In a sense, something similar happened in Ekabpils. Private initiative - decided and made. Only in a few other form. Most likely, the very local heroes advocated on their radical actions. There are people who are still tested by nostalgia at the occupation times. At the same time in Latvians for many years, the desire to remove this occupation symbol for many years. At least a cannon, symbolizing aggression. Even at the state level they discussed. However, the ministers were powerless in front of the Red Hands of the Kremlin. So the inhabitants of Jekabpils helped the authorities helped.
How did the monument disappear in St. Petersburg? He was demolished by a court decision and with the permission of the authorities. Among the white day, the excavator arrived and demolished the granite sculpture. Six the stele from the pedestal, threw into a cargo container and was such with all the zealous respect of the Kremlin to the story. Only reinforcement pins remain in Earth. And without any regret.
In the Latvian media, a lot has written a lot in the Daugava in the Daugava. Self-governing, and police and politicians spoke.
And about the monument demolished in Russia, the Latvian shooters were asymmetrically silent. But if there is no symmetry in the war, there is no war. Only cowardly concessions. "