Ekaterina Blinova — Latvia's Interior Minister Richard Kozlovskis called upon Riga's citizens to avoid provocations and to stay away from the capital's center during the annual march held on March 16 by Waffen SS Legion veterans and their supporters.
Russia's Foreign Ministry denounced the Waffen SS annual parade in Riga as "disgraceful," saying it insulted millions of victims of the Second World War.
Latvia's Waffen SS Legion was formed in 1943 on Adolf Hitler's orders, comprising about 150,000 volunteers. The legionnaires participated in ruthless punitive operations, directed against Jews, Russians and Latvian Communists.
According to Latvian media sources, members of anti-fascist movement washed and "disinfected" the square in front of the Freedom Monument after Waffen SS veterans ended their march.