Leonid Slutskiy
Slutsky
Leonid Eduardovich
recalled that
Latvian legislators had initiated a process aimed at banning the use of St.
George ribbons. On September 17, the Saeima adopted the relevant bill in the first reading, and the bill will soon be reviewed in the second and then in the final third reading.
“In fact, a systematic policy is taking place at the legislative level in Latvia aimed at erasing the common historical memory and undermining the role of the Soviet soldier in the defeat of Nazism,” stressed Leonid Slutskiy.
“They had already equated Soviet and Nazi symbols, the Saeima members took another blasphemous step — the ban on the symbol of the Great Victory, and St. George ribbon is such a symbol in many states. Latvian parliamentarians, in fact, just jeer at the heroes and veterans of World War II and their own grandparents,” said the Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs and stressed that it was particularly regrettable when such initiatives were taken that year marking the 75th anniversary of the Great Victory.
“I appeal to all vital forces in the Saeima and urge them to prevent the adoption of the blasphemous ban on St. George ribbons. For millions of people around the world, it has been and remains a symbol of memory, link between generations, symbol of military glory and courage,” Leonid Slutskiy said.