Stay updated with breaking news from Soviet Monuments. Get real-time updates on events, politics, business, and more. Visit us for reliable news and exclusive interviews.
Latvia toppled a towering Soviet-era monument commemorating the Red Army victory over Nazi Germany, the latest in a series of monuments that have been pulled down in Eastern Europe amid growing hostility toward Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.
The demolition of a large Soviet monument complex in Riga's Victory Park (Uzvaras parks) began Tuesday following the arrival of large excavators at the site; by Tuesday night, part of the sculptures had already been taken down. Latvian authorities are taking Estonia's experiences into consideration during the process as well.
The Estonian government has no plans to demolish the Maarjamäe Memorial [to those who fell defending the Soviet Union in WWII] in Tallinn. However, Minister of Culture Piret Hartman (SDE) did not rule out cooperation with the City of Tallinn and other partners in redesigning the memorial.
The Estonian War Museum in Viimsi, just outside Tallinn, saw three times the number of visitors over the weekend. While Saturday was a national holiday in Estonia (Restoration of Independence Day), the larger-than-usual crowd, of over 1,000 visitors, was likely drawn by a Soviet-made tank which had previously been located in Narva, opening up for public display.
Work is set to begin on Monday to dismantle the Soviet 'Victory' monument in Riga's Uzvaras Park, Latvian national broadcaster LSM reports.