USSR sent many ethnic Latvians to there deaths in Siberia during the occupation and replaced them with ethnic Russians. This was their policy throughout the conquered lands after WW2. This I learned from a Lithuanian immigrant to the USA who was formerly an Officer in the Soviet Army.
My great grandfather was one of them and survived. Thankfully broke free and hit the guy who tortured them with a chair in the head. The deportations is one of the main reasons this monument was so hated in Latvia.
What did the Soviets call this policy of relocating indigenous populations and replacing them with Russians? It happened so many times that they must have given it a code name or something.
I'm so glad that the monument is finally gone. I live in Riga my whole life and I'm 50 years old but this summer was the first time in my life when I visited this park. Now Riga has another beautiful place.
Latvia is a sovereign, independent and democratic law-based society not a Soviet colony, and Putin and his supporters have no right to claim it as theirs.
The divide mentioned in the video has always been there. And the celebrations shown by the monument have always been calm but with with certain negativity towards latvians. It's not a great sign when you walking through the centre of Riga and see groups of people with Russian flags, shouting in russian while showing that Latvia is part of the occupiers.
@@timknin yeah it's not just Latvians. Anywhere you have a large Russian diaspora, you're bound to have things like that i for one am glad the Latvians destroyed these monuments. I'm stunned they haven't destroyed the communist war memorial near Berlin yet either
You disrespectful brat, this is a monument for the soldiers that died in the war. How disrespectful and ungrateful one should be spit in the face of the people who dies to save people against the vermacht. You must be a SS grandchild.
Pity you people of Lithuania and Estonia, destroying part of your history because of western influence, What is the difference between you and ISIS who go around destroying tombs in Iraq and other parts of the world to erase the historical facts as much as the Egyptian chiselled statures. What wrong with you people!.
Yes, their right. But the countries have to return all the values of the nobility, either directly or pay large compensations to the nobility. International law will require it if the nobility demands this.
For decades Eastern Europeans tolerated Soviet monuments, in spite of Putin's behaviour. All these monuments would have remained and been respected if only Russia hadn't started to act like a barbarian horde.
@@Nobody-Nowhere Putin is the president of Russia, and the Soviet Union was just the Russian Empire under another name. If the Soviet Union really had nothing to do with Russia, Russians wouldn't be crying their eyes out when Soviet monuments get removed.
@@MrSonofsonof isn't that pretty much how Soviet Union was formed? It was russian Soviets who created USSR with the puppet governments of other founding nations being under their control. It was Russian Soviets who made all the rules and had final say in everything. It was Russia in all but name.
Anyone wanting a reminder of the "good old Soviet Russian" times, visit the KGB museums in Tallin, Vilnius and Riga. And remember that Putin grew up as part of the KGB.
@@ВадимВадим-э8м I don't think people read American comics for news, much like they shouldn't rely on Russian state media for the truth! There are accounts by people who suffered at the hands of the KGB as well as accounts by those who worked for the KGB, and those who dealt with the KGB in other ways. Also, papers released and notorised by the KGB. Some research with an open mind will help if you're more interested in finding out the facts rather than defending those who invaded.
I'm from the Baltics and this has more to do with the regime and imperialistic features of Soviet/Russian states. This is not a graveyard of a fallen Soviet soldier, of which many were not russian, but a symbol of imperialism and rule over the conquered people. They're free to praise what their ancestors did in their graveyard parks, but we have every right to remove the monument of a regime that tried to erase our identity and sent our grandparents to starve to death in Siberia. Russians are very keen to try to whitewash the crimes of their grandparents and pretend to be the saviors of Europe when in fact they fought for the Soviet system, not to givw anyone freedom.
@@malikrug5687 Yes yes, as soon as they manage to beat Ukraine in their 2 week war and face nato afterwards. That trash is gone, and should have gone sonner. Having a Soviet Imperialistic in Latvia is like having a monument of king Leopold II in modern day Congo.
@Kawinfinity Exactly, occupation and imperialism came from both sides and therefore we don't own them anything. When they don't even recognize their criminal acts of ethnic cleansing and banning of our native culture
Ethnic Russians living in Latvia can always go to Russia. They could have as many monuments to Russian fascism as they like back in in their home country of Russia.
The russians aren't ethnic to Latvia they are occupiers, the russians occupied Latvia and killed the ethnic Latvians. Hope Latvians deports all russian occupiers, those russian that respect Latvia and Latvian language can stay in russia but need to learn Latvian language
It was said that the UDSSR had plans at hand for its demise, which included longterm russian settlement in occupied territory, so that at a later stage should the UDSSR have fallen, russia could more easily regain control in these areas. I imagine Putin would be quite familiar with that strategy.
That's why Latvia has a Russian minority. Stalin included small parts of the Russian Empire within his borders of these now independent states. He never foresaw a day when the Soviet Union would collapse from within. Mr. Putin is simply standing in Stalin's shoes. What a wonderful "leader" to emulate.
if Putin had not have invaded Ukraine well all these remaining Soviet monuments would probably have stayed in place and would still be tourist attractions. Now the destruction of all remaining Soviet monuments in Eastern Europe is now guaranteed and following that the destruction of any vestiges of Russian imperialism. The Soviet war memorial in Berlin probably not be there much longer either. Nice one Putin
@@pedrojulio1960 you mean tourism? What kind of tourist wants to see that? All those who are interested in that bs aren’t even allowed to go to Lithuania lol
My father is Latvian and we now live in Australia. Build a new monument in the same place to honour Latvia and their lost sons and daughters. Problem solved.
No need! We have a place to commemorate the fallen soldiers and it's called "Brāļu kapi". Normal Latvians go there. But most ethnic russians in Latvia who went to the giant monument choose to commemorate on 9th of May by getting drunk, using forbidden memorabilia, fireworks, leaving garbage and getting confrontational with local population. Covid made restrictions and now, after war in Ukraine, we said - enough. No more glorying of Red Army and occupation, because that's what it was about.
@@FVBmovies From your comment I get the feeling you would like to get rid of those "polluting " Russians. Now's your chance. Nobody will report on a genocide of Russians.
Yes, fine, but just remember that all the nobility's valuables must be returned or large compensations must be paid for. Time for the nobility to react and demand their values back.
@@btc175 It is called private property. Remember everything was stolen from the nobility in the coup d'état/revolution of 1917. But the values still belong to the people who owned the values in 1917. No statute of limitations.
Good riddance! Ruzzians have a very selective memory when it comes to their own history…it’s time they remember things how they actually were, and remove the symbols of the Soviet oppression and occupation!
The Baltic countries were occupied by the Soviet Union, as was the rest of Imperial Russia. But under the Emperor they were all part of Russia, not occupied, but part of the whole. Like Finland and Poland. The West financed the Russian coup d'état (1917) wrongly called the Russian Revolution. So the West is to blame for all of Europe's miseries over the past 100 years.
U mean Ork looks like. They should have not invaded Ukraine if they wanted to keep the status quo. They reap what they sow. What they planted is what they harvested.
@@Lastochka720 demolishing Bolshevism and it’s symbols is a sign of strength, but you comrade love your statues of mass murder Lenin. You pray to him like to a religious figure.
it is sure that by not speaking forget all the positive aspects that the USSR could bring, and to what point its fall has been catastrophic for the large part of the population
Every day more and more people in the West are turning against their governments, these tiny quasi-nations are begging to be their new bootlickers, I just can’t have any respect for people like that
We should also commemorate the brave resistance of the Eastern Germans that fought for their national re-unification. Particularly, the great German resistance leader, Herr Gorbaschow
@@petarcvele1243 You that unaware? They had the protests and even formed a million person line as a recall. They knew the risks of openly opposing the regime, but they still went out. If russians could do that today, the war in ukraine would be over.
I read lots of comments on videos like these. Westerners try to be objective, by hearing out all sides of the story. Some of westerners might think "russian population in the Baltics have good point!" No they don't! Do not be deceived! Those people, living here in European Union, for decades, without even trying to learn the language and worshiping the past, are not right. They did not become second class citizens after the fall of USSR, they were not victims of taking away something from them, as they claim. They had been brought here and settled after WWII by USSR. Thus Orcland is trying to pretend these lands have always been theirs. They have not been orkish! Baltic values, mentality, culture and lifestyle have always been leaning towards the west, even during USSR times. Yet they dirtied our cultures and it is very hard to get rid of it's effects: culture of basic strength, hillbilyism (maroz), alcohol culture, homophobia, misogynism, hatred towards the different, etc. We have to change; take the best from the West, reject their negatives, completely reject soviet past and forge a new future.
I'm really not seeing many Westerners doing any such thing. I completely agree with your about the Russians in the Baltic States (and the Ukraine) but slinging mud at your allies is a silly move.
@@exlibrisas There are an awful lot of Westerners buying into and reproducing Russian rhetoric. Even if it's not being flagrantly pro-Russian... just picking up pieces like the complaints about energy or homelessness or 'it's not our business'. Russia are masters at identifying fissures that can be exploited and at muddying the waters. The West (and Ukraine, in my view) have done a really poor job of representing the jeopardy in this situation. The consequence is to not appreciate the pressing relevance of the struggle to each and everyone of us. I think that there have been reasons for playing down the danger, but I also think that they have ultimately been counterproductive and, as such, a different presentation is required.
Does anyone remember that the Second World War was started jointly by an attack on Poland, Germany on September 1, 1939, and Russia on September 17, 1939. This was the result of the Ribentrop-Molotov Pact.
Russians don't know it. Their history books are fairy tales. They love considering themselves as WWII biggest heroes and liberators and put everything else aside.
Interesting how many people go: "Russia is best. Russia will take Latvia" You don't even know what Latvia went trough to get out of the soviet union Some will go: "What? Latvia didn't do anything to get independence" Yes they did Latvians did a lot to try and get their independence Barricades, The Baltic line. Latvia couldn't start to get a real military because WW2 started Latvians were sent to gulag's or killed for speaking their own language so were other country citizens Some people in this very comment section for some reason love the red army That monument wasn't a war monument it was a victory monument it staying there made Latvia look like it was still a soviet country It isn't, Latvia is a independent sovereign country that still stands to this day And is now around 105 years old from the first time of independence Long live our country Latvia
And one day, some ukranian people will forget nationalist ideas and things like statues of stepan bandera will be destroyed 😉 🇺🇦🤝🇵🇱 Support Poland and Latvia from Ukraine 💪
Since this event - straight opposit. And our goverment even work on more limitation for russians here in Latvia. Our president just ruined all the peace.
@@HELESPONTify Karachi is at least 1 million times better than Moscow! 😂 And Pakistan is not a dictatorship like Russia! It is at least possible to call a war a "war" in Pakistan. And btw, I follow the 'Trybals' channel, very nice people!
This should have been done many decades earlier. And if the nostalgic russian speaking people are not happy about it, they can leave asap the country and cross the border in direction of Russia.
For the same reasoons why children of russian politics all live or study abroad. They say they hate it but at the same time they love taking adventage of it.
@@haniffhaniff5764 Do what you want. The pproblem with Russia is Russian people still don't understand they can not force anybody to love them. Being Nato member is a choice while being Russia's puppet state is often made by force.
Correct. Interesting how people defending Russia here in the comments don't seem to mention that tiny bit of VERY IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT HISTORICAL FACT!
Yep, and then they reocupied Latvia again after Germany had lost the war, and they were never ' liberated ' like the western world was, they had to continue living under soviet oppression until 1990 !
@@MetallicReg Eastern Germans are less evolved Germans. They are poorer, more religious and more fanatic. Their way of thinking is similar to Russians.
we latvians have always called this the monument of occupation. Every latvian always wanted to do this only we were scared of russia and tensions that it would create between local vatniks and us. Now was the perfect moment. The pressure was so high from the society that we would have done it for ourselves if the government wouldn't do it.
USSR had more Ukranian leaders than Russians. Trotsky, Ukranian, Kruscherov Ukranian, Breznev, Ukranian. Even Gorbachev was of Ukranian descent. Stalin who ruled the USSR for 31 years with an iron fist was Georgian. Europeans have gone brain dead. USSR had 15 different republics. Russia was just one of them.
@@danwelterweight4137 Russia was the one in control. The rest 14 would have gladly left the soviet union if not Russia. Once there was a right opportunity they all declared independence.
Could not, russia agreed to give independence and to withdraw their military bases from Latvia, if Latvia will sign agreement, that all ussr monuments in Latvia will stay untouched and Latvia will take care of them, also we have 25% local russians living in Latvia. And of course threat, that russia would invade in case we start to destroying monuments. We are small country with low population. By the way, that is russias tactics, to send in russians in other countries(they used that when they occupied half europe) and then, to threat nations. They invaded Donbas and Luhansk by saying, that they are saving russians in those regions. I wish that Latvia could send all of russians back where they belongs, because it is a threat to our existence ! Well, it depends who rules the russia of course. In this case, it is a threat !
@taj majal they don't want to because it's soo bad in russia and russian culture is making everything around you worse that's why they are ruining latvia too😀😀😀
Exactly. "Saving The World from fascism" is unimaginably absurd, when all You need to see is Molotov-Ribentrop pact. That man's grandparents were killed in a war their own leaders wanted and started.
Now, it's time for the Soviet Treptower and Tiergarten monuments in Berlin to be taken down. Good riddance, I say. Maintaining these monuments are a waste of valuable land and resources in the community.
@@limedickandrew6016 maybe before but now russia put all eyes on it and countries are severing all ties to the old russian power and its symbols. Try maybe not being the new conquering expansionist power in Europe.
@@limedickandrew6016 Of course, but is not like there is a limit on "better" things. We can do more better things and also remove the Soviet monuments celebrating ... the Soviet Union and its oppression more than anything else.
@@greatgalaxy2118 Ah another fascist troll it seems. Drawing false parallels. Notice that the west is in the middle of reconciliation wirh first nations while...russia is in the process of bullying or attempting to bully its former vassal states. But the alleged fascist troll will try to deflect, or project, or spam irrelevnt info, or lie if theory is correct. Not saying its a confirmed russian fascist troll yet though.
@@abcdedfg8340P.S. Friend guess you are now totally enlightened with the FACIST WEST, and its war mongering TENDENCY through out the course of history of Human Civilization. BTW, If you see the Graph of war/killing, The West ranks in the top position.
As a Latvian, i personally enjoyed this. The fact stands that there was, is and will be a divide in our country going foward. We are happy that the communist statue is gone, because fhe commies were people who oppresed Ethical Latvians and our language. They wanted the communist way and we finally got our freedom in 1990. If you know the history, you will understand. If you dont, thats not our problem and any russian who thinks not speaking our national language and living here is acceptable can take a one way ticket over our border. We wont tolerate it anymore. If it suprises you, most Russians who live here use russian as a daily communication language. Ive been talked to by a russian cashier who spoke to me only in russian and then when i said to speak latvian she said to me " why dont you know russian, you should speak it " and from that day on i hate everything to do with them, because they still think they have the right to tell us how to speak.
Bravo Latvia! Hopefully many more countries in the former Eastern Block to follow with the removal of these symbols of tyranny, oppression and imperialism. I yearn for a day that russians will wake up one day and do the same in Russia, by removing the mausoleum, removing the current KGB regime and join the Western civilization once and for all and let got of imperialistic and tyrannical tendencies. Слава Україні, жыве Беларусь и... свобода России
The Soviet Union, despite it's flaws, git the first man in Space, had several world chess champions and was the union of 14 Republics with thousands of ethnic groups.... Besides, 20 million soviets died to defeat Nazism...it's a big disrespect to destroy those monuments like that
@@leonardocontreras9690 it's also a big disrespect to those ordinary minority who relocation to Siberia to die after the war. A good deed for the war effort doesn't mean to subjugate the people there.
@@greatgalaxy2118 US government formally apologized for the occupancy of Indian land and has been paying lots of benefits to the local tribes, even though most of the occupation happened during the imperial times when the US didn't exist. The USSR and Russia never apologized for the occupancy of the Baltic countries and never paid any reparation.
@@greatgalaxy2118 they should. And they did. As for you, cope harder. Baltics and Europe are free to do exactly what you CLAIMED they were doing for over a decade. Your surprised Pikachu face is priceless.
@@llothar68 Das stimmt, aber er nutzt es für sich, die Erinnerungen und es ist ein gutes Zeichen gegen die Unterdrückung durch die UdSSR gegenüber Latvia.
As the Monument Falls, the Latvians can directly-and-indirectly say; It was Completely Incorrect for the Russians to say that the Latvian/s is an Inferior Race and that the Russians must know that it is "More Wise for Anyone" to deal a Neighbour Country as Peer, as Co-equal and share with neighbours the Goals-and-Harvests of Peace-and-Prosperity. GOD bless the Latvian Government, its Beautiful People and the Truth Seekers.
The Baltic countries are independent and decide for themselves what they do not want standing any longer. But they do not decide if the nobility demands all their values back, then the countries must either give the nobility all their values back or pay large compensations. International law will require it.
@@Mrdinomist Forgetting one's past is betrayal, and the Soviet Union's contribution to the world is being erased. It is possible that 100 years later, people on earth will not know who was the first to go into space.
@@Mrdinomist Yes, all Turkish monuments should be removed as well. They were horrible and never brought anything good to the world. Those monuments are just wasting space, that could be used for good things. For history we have history books.
It's not a "monument of occupation". It's a monument of history. History can never be changed. Whatever you like it or not - doesn't matter. I, for example, might not like Stalin and Gulag concentration camps. But Stalin ruled our country. And Gulag was real. Of course I can pretend that it never happened, but it all real and part of our history.
@@СергейМонин-д7с Statues generally interpreted to represent occupation and oppression are daily reminders that the people's will at one time meant nothing to the occupiers. Good riddance.
I am ethnic Latvian. Unfortunately I couldn't see the destruction of the obelisk in-person because the exact moment of its fall was a secret due to safety reasons, but I felt goose bumps in a good way when looking at it falling, even after watching dozens of times. Our ancestors fought for independence and in a way, 25th August 2022 is the second day of independence for Latvia.
No brain to support mononationalism. Brain needs to appreciate diversity and multiculturalism. Mono nationalism has nothing to do with democracy or freedom because democracy appreciate rights of different people while freedom stops where disrespect to freedom of other people start.
I never understood the monuments to the Soviet army in Europe. The Soviet Union started the second world war by attacking Poland with Germany in September 1939. The Soviet Union was an aggressor country that invaded and committed genocide against Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Romania and which, at the end of the war, subjugated 1/2 of Europe. To pay homage to this horror was beyond my capacity to comprehend. I applaud the Latvians
They didn't start WW2 lmao, thats such a weak uneducated say. It was smth called the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, USSR barely had any fighting if any in Poland, they just moved in to "secure it" was it wrong? yes, they start a world war? not at all, that's a dumb theory far too stretched.
@@royale7620 be sure that more and more people will think in that simplified way. Just like many are thinking that Serbia started ww1 by killing Franz. Not even mentioning that the Austrians were ockupiers
The park is already there, a natural (I think) river flow through it. All the walkways are made out of pot holes, and that pylon was the only actual building there
Latvians and Estonians were second class citizens under the Russian boot. These countries were kept poor with any resources going to mother Russia. Now they are thriving!
@@anbang4531 HUGE difference! All you have to do is look at the aftermath of WW2. America created the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe and jump-start their economies. We even offered this help to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Stalin said NYET! The Soviets looted Eastern Europe (even their allies) instead of rebuilding it.
@@wildmouse5888 Too true, That's why many of the eastern block countries were so behind in their economies. Power was diverted from Estonia to heat Russian homes Doesn't take much imagination to think that the same thing was happening in Latvia and Lithuania etc, etc.
If you forget about history it's destined to repeat itself.... don't agree with this. Massive worldwide dictatorship will come in a foreseeable future.
@@JOEL00111 Usual whataboutism from ruSSia. The US hasn’t forcefully taken any land from another country in almost 200 years, unlike ruSSia that steals land about once a decade.
@@ИванНеизвестный-е7н Russian army should try to come to the Baltic states. What are you waiting for? Better to do that instead of being a keyboard computer warrior 🙂
@@ben-taobeneton3945 Are you saying that after we regained independence from Russia that invaded us, long years were spent building relationships with that same country? It was politicians with old soviet mentality who kept close ties with Russia and tried to build this relationship you are talking about. We have always wanted to remain neutral and not get too friendly with Russia, because it is a country that cannot be trusted. And you can now see evidence of that in Ukraine. In our country we can build and demolish monuments as we please. If you don't like that, mother Russia awaits you ;)
Good idea. But that location is not the right one. At least, not now. Because of incresining anger from russians. Any monument will be demolished constantly. I am absolutely sure of it and i even understand it. As long as i remember myself, russians went there on may 9. to put thousands of flowers. Like thousands! It should be added that the flowers at the Latvian Freedom Monument had never even third of it.
You might be Russian by ethnicity but you are either Latvian by nationality or not. If your loyalties lies towards russia, then you need to sell your house and leave.
@@shanelambert6192 Most ethnic Russians were colonists ready to destroy Latvian culture as their Communist regime murdered and exiled Latvian civilians.
@@shanelambert6192 If they want to be Russian and suck Putin off, they can leave. I'm sure the Latvian people, much like the Estonians can figure out how to make a successful nation without bowing to the oppressor.
people like you is why we risk losing peace in europe. america is not going to save you, if you poke the bear. we wont risk nuclear annhilation for you. so you better find a way to make peace with russia.
I'm not sure many of those are still around. The main building of the GDR government (named "Palast der Republik") in Berlin was demolished years ago. That house was also an eyesore, but came not even close to this monument. What's mostly left in eastern Germany are the "Plattenbauten", Soviet era apartment buildings.
Totally support the Baltic States in doing this. The Baltic countries should also demand an apology from Russia for the crimes committed by the Soviet Union during their occupation of Latvia Estonia and Lithuania.
The Baltic countries were part of Imperial Russia. The Georgian Stalin occupied the Baltic countries. Today, the Baltics are independent, so they have never been occupied by Russia. Be aware the nobility can demand all values returned by the Baltic countries or receive large compensations.
“More than 150,000 Soviet soldiers perished in the fight for the liberation of Latvia during WW2.The wicked are always ungrateful, and there is no vice greater than that of ingratitude. Shame on you Latvians!
@@HD7737 We all know about Molotov and Ribentrop, yes we do! but being ignorant about 150000 Soviet soldiers who had died liberating Latvia, and denied that it did not even happen is OK for you? It proves that my statement about cowardly and ungrateful Latvian mob is 100%. correct!
comrade Bolshevik, those fallen soldiers have their cemeteries, nobody is touching them. But your bombastic, poor-taste, red-fascist monuments shall be destroyed, like we did in Poland.
Not sure if this generalisation is true. Say, in my country Lithuania there are only 5-6% of Russians, and the percentage of those who watch Russian State TV is lower. Some Lithuanian Russians are pro-Ukraine -- they support Ukraine just as much as we do. Putinism isn't always down to nationality.
In the trash. The , "liberation", they speak of was conducted by the greatest mass murder in history. Brought nothing but oppression for decades. Russia has always been garbage.
Latvia was one of the richest republics of the USSR. Latvia had some of the most advanced enterprises, the standard of living in it was the best in the USSR. The country grew and developed. And now what? Another loan from the EU, a closed enterprise, another demolished Soviet monument and another anti-record for population growth. In my opinion, the Latvian people, like all other peoples of the USSR, were deceived by local party leaders who wanted to rob the common people and concentrate all power in their hands under the slogans of pseudo-nationalism and pseudo-freedom.
Whats pseudo about the objective lack of freedom inside the Soviet Union? Latvian economy only grew after it escaped soviet boot. And their people seem to be happy not to live in the communist reality.
Who knows what he wants. Maybe a N-Korea type of dictatorship which is helped by being isolated and surrounded by "enemies". That way public opinion doesn't matter and he can stay in power as long as he lives.
I don't like Communists and don't like the Soviet Union, but it was a piece of history that commemorated the victims of the war. I feel conflicted. Not sure whether I support this destruction or not.
We have a place to commemorate the fallen soldiers and it's called "Brāļu kapi". Normal Latvians go there. But most ethnic russians in Latvia who went to the giant monument choose to commemorate on 9th of May by getting drunk, using forbidden memorabilia, fireworks, leaving garbage and getting confrontational with local population. Covid made restrictions, as seen in the video - only flower were allowed, and now, after war in Ukraine, we said - enough. No more glorying of Red Army and occupation, because that's what it was about.
I feel the same. I understand you do not want to see such monument in your neighborhood but this is part of history. So maybe instead of destroying it some modifications could be done to it to reflect how people feel about it currently? Tell the story what happend after the WW2.
@Philosophy_First "dum dum" that's your best intelectual argument? I'm sure your country is full of monuments to totalitarian rulers, like most European countries, destroy them all. It is your coutry. In my country I want to preserve the memories of the good 'and. The bad.
I either! Specially taking into account that baltics and ukranians, like so many other peoples of the USSR also formed part of the Red Army. Ukranian troops, officers and leaders contributed with a significant role in the pushback of the Whermacht and taking of the capital Berlin. Monuments, buildings, strongholds ... form part of history and of the heritage of a country. We cannot decide on their fate based on a short term focus based on current political and ideological aims, religion included.
USSR sent many ethnic Latvians to there deaths in Siberia during the occupation and replaced them with ethnic Russians. This was their policy throughout the conquered lands after WW2.
This I learned from a Lithuanian immigrant to the USA who was formerly an Officer in the Soviet Army.
My great grandfather was one of them and survived. Thankfully broke free and hit the guy who tortured them with a chair in the head. The deportations is one of the main reasons this monument was so hated in Latvia.
What did the Soviets call this policy of relocating indigenous populations and replacing them with Russians? It happened so many times that they must have given it a code name or something.
The czars started this process and they called it Russification
@@edgardoacosta591 that’s a terrible name 😂😂
@@TheNimes 🤣🤣🤣
I'm so glad that the monument is finally gone. I live in Riga my whole life and I'm 50 years old but this summer was the first time in my life when I visited this park. Now Riga has another beautiful place.
Latvia is a sovereign, independent and democratic law-based society not a Soviet colony, and Putin and his supporters have no right to claim it as theirs.
Russians will remember that.
@@Abyss-d1g pretty sure that's the point, they seem prone to forget.
@@dawsongillies6925 latvia faced with a brutal reality.
Too bad 50% of Latvian population are russians so civil war is close!
@@Abyss-d1g true that. Luckily nato membership means that Latvia will not have to face any millitary intervention alone (if it comes to that).
W Latvia best regards from Poland 🇵🇱🤝🇱🇻
Dziękuje Ci bardzo przyjacielu,long live Poland,long live Ukraine.
The divide mentioned in the video has always been there. And the celebrations shown by the monument have always been calm but with with certain negativity towards latvians. It's not a great sign when you walking through the centre of Riga and see groups of people with Russian flags, shouting in russian while showing that Latvia is part of the occupiers.
Well, such enemy people should get forced to leave the country in my opinion.
If the Russians living in Latvia don't like it they can go elsewhere, another place in Europe to live or back to Russia.
@@iggyblitz8739 No place wants them.
What a insult to Latavians to have Russians living there and enjoying the free world while they holding a Russian flag!!
@@timknin yeah it's not just Latvians. Anywhere you have a large Russian diaspora, you're bound to have things like that
i for one am glad the Latvians destroyed these monuments. I'm stunned they haven't destroyed the communist war memorial near Berlin yet either
Congratulations to the people of Latvia, as well as Lithuania and Estonia - destroy the symbols of the shackles of the past!
You disrespectful brat, this is a monument for the soldiers that died in the war. How disrespectful and ungrateful one should be spit in the face of the people who dies to save people against the vermacht. You must be a SS grandchild.
Pity you people of Lithuania and Estonia, destroying part of your history because of western influence, What is the difference between you and ISIS who go around destroying tombs in Iraq and other parts of the world to erase the historical facts as much as the Egyptian chiselled statures. What wrong with you people!.
@No Thankyou they got EUmoney an are Nato protected an they mistreat russophone as Ukrainian mistreat them
Yes, their right. But the countries have to return all the values of the nobility, either directly or pay large compensations to the nobility. International law will require it if the nobility demands this.
@@louisecorchevolle9241 vatnik 🤡
For decades Eastern Europeans tolerated Soviet monuments, in spite of Putin's behaviour.
All these monuments would have remained and been respected if only Russia hadn't started to act like a barbarian horde.
And how is Putin related to Soviet Union? I think its you who is acting like a barbarian and burning books.
@@Nobody-Nowhere Putin is the president of Russia, and the Soviet Union was just the Russian Empire under another name. If the Soviet Union really had nothing to do with Russia, Russians wouldn't be crying their eyes out when Soviet monuments get removed.
Not German’s problem, they do what they want and it’s not a concern what happens next.
@@MrSonofsonof isn't that pretty much how Soviet Union was formed? It was russian Soviets who created USSR with the puppet governments of other founding nations being under their control.
It was Russian Soviets who made all the rules and had final say in everything.
It was Russia in all but name.
Even without Putin these monuments of russian opression should be leveled to the ground regardless.
In Latvia that soviet built 'monument' was called the pole of shame.
cringe
@@aperks 🤓
The real shame is Latvia SS division and neonazism in Latvia.
@@aperks Like the entire red army.
@@aperks cry little baby
It's not a toppling of a monument, just a special downsizing operation 😂
🤣👏💪
Exactly!
It's just a Good Will gesture.
This monument was devoted to the memory of the Soviet soldiers who died during WWII. And who freed this country from the fascism. It’s not funny.
@@pani2282 Times have changed. Ussr was a dark and evil place. They fought for their own survival, but subjugated millions.
Democracy forever erase these symbols of oppression
Nope.
I love democracy so much!
But only when the people are voted in that i like!
Otherwise there is fascism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Democracy can be just as oppressive if it’s forced on you
In the US, 3 people died shot by the cops everyday.
demoncracy is the largest oppression today 🤡
Congratulations to Latvians from Poland!
Thank you Poland from the free world in helping Ukraine.
what about making garbage dump in katyńska
@@RECHOOSENONE what about what about what about blah blah blah what about you GFY terrorbot
@@RECHOOSENONE what about this what about that hows about you get some bitches on your deck
Do you like cousin od John Demianiuk?
Anyone wanting a reminder of the "good old Soviet Russian" times, visit the KGB museums in Tallin, Vilnius and Riga. And remember that Putin grew up as part of the KGB.
Можно ещё американские комиксы про СССР почитать, в них больше правды чем в этом музее.
@@ВадимВадим-э8м I don't think people read American comics for news, much like they shouldn't rely on Russian state media for the truth!
There are accounts by people who suffered at the hands of the KGB as well as accounts by those who worked for the KGB, and those who dealt with the KGB in other ways. Also, papers released and notorised by the KGB.
Some research with an open mind will help if you're more interested in finding out the facts rather than defending those who invaded.
@@ВадимВадим-э8м Если вы считаете, что русские не глупы, прочитайте сообщения русских.
@@ВадимВадим-э8мCould you try using a language that isn't a downgrade of greek? Serf.
I'm from the Baltics and this has more to do with the regime and imperialistic features of Soviet/Russian states. This is not a graveyard of a fallen Soviet soldier, of which many were not russian, but a symbol of imperialism and rule over the conquered people. They're free to praise what their ancestors did in their graveyard parks, but we have every right to remove the monument of a regime that tried to erase our identity and sent our grandparents to starve to death in Siberia. Russians are very keen to try to whitewash the crimes of their grandparents and pretend to be the saviors of Europe when in fact they fought for the Soviet system, not to givw anyone freedom.
Very True, still doing the same today! If anyone live under freedom, will cherish forever ..
You will be rebuilding them soon
@@malikrug5687 Yes yes, as soon as they manage to beat Ukraine in their 2 week war and face nato afterwards. That trash is gone, and should have gone sonner.
Having a Soviet Imperialistic in Latvia is like having a monument of king Leopold II in modern day Congo.
What system did Latvians fight for in 1943-44? Tell us about a Latvian SS legion and Waffen-SS concentration camp in Riga for example.
@Kawinfinity Exactly, occupation and imperialism came from both sides and therefore we don't own them anything. When they don't even recognize their criminal acts of ethnic cleansing and banning of our native culture
Ethnic Russians living in Latvia can always go to Russia. They could have as many monuments to Russian fascism as they like back in in their home country of Russia.
Ethnir Russians in Ukraine will go in Russia with land they lived for centuries
@@m.i.9832 more like land they've lived on since Stalin's days..
The russians aren't ethnic to Latvia they are occupiers, the russians occupied Latvia and killed the ethnic Latvians. Hope Latvians deports all russian occupiers, those russian that respect Latvia and Latvian language can stay in russia but need to learn Latvian language
This is called racism.
@@yuwan Idk if some people even realize this.
It was said that the UDSSR had plans at hand for its demise, which included longterm russian settlement in occupied territory, so that at a later stage should the UDSSR have fallen, russia could more easily regain control in these areas. I imagine Putin would be quite familiar with that strategy.
That's why Latvia has a Russian minority. Stalin included small parts of the Russian Empire within his borders of these now independent states. He never foresaw a day when the Soviet Union would collapse from within. Mr. Putin is simply standing in Stalin's shoes. What a wonderful "leader" to emulate.
Russia has been building it's empire for centuries. They have perfected moving populations to secure ground.
If effectly happened in Moldova.
@@jimthain8777 Putin didn´t really ever make a secret about it... It just had been ignored for buisness reasons...
This tactic is nothing new, as early as 1532 Machiavelli's book "The Prince" mentioned colonial settlements as a favorable means of occupation.
👏👏Well done Latvia!! Let Putin's dreams of a new Soviet Union be utterly crushed.
if Putin had not have invaded Ukraine well all these remaining Soviet monuments would probably have stayed in place and would still be tourist attractions. Now the destruction of all remaining Soviet monuments in Eastern Europe is now guaranteed and following that the destruction of any vestiges of Russian imperialism. The Soviet war memorial in Berlin probably not be there much longer either. Nice one Putin
So fool🤣 I would keep it for Turismo🤣
@@pedrojulio1960 go to Moscow Putin bootlicker if you want to see their garbage.
@@pedrojulio1960 you mean tourism? What kind of tourist wants to see that? All those who are interested in that bs aren’t even allowed to go to Lithuania lol
Should have moved it to a museum I do not like seeing history destroyed
My father is Latvian and we now live in Australia. Build a new monument in the same place to honour Latvia and their lost sons and daughters.
Problem solved.
We already have one of those, so that space can stay empty for the time being
No need! We have a place to commemorate the fallen soldiers and it's called "Brāļu kapi". Normal Latvians go there. But most ethnic russians in Latvia who went to the giant monument choose to commemorate on 9th of May by getting drunk, using forbidden memorabilia, fireworks, leaving garbage and getting confrontational with local population. Covid made restrictions and now, after war in Ukraine, we said - enough. No more glorying of Red Army and occupation, because that's what it was about.
@@FVBmovies From your comment I get the feeling you would like to get rid of those "polluting " Russians. Now's your chance. Nobody will report on a genocide of Russians.
@@FVBmovies I hope it doesnt go down to ethnic cleasing of latvian russians, because thats how it starts
@@mrsam0496 It will also start WW3.
as a Latvian i can say : We hare happy to get rid of this junk
Yes, fine, but just remember that all the nobility's valuables must be returned or large compensations must be paid for. Time for the nobility to react and demand their values back.
Really? Millions of people who died during WWII are junk for you? It explains a lot.
Absolutely !
@@alexejII what?
@@btc175 It is called private property. Remember everything was stolen from the nobility in the coup d'état/revolution of 1917. But the values still belong to the people who owned the values in 1917. No statute of limitations.
Good riddance! Ruzzians have a very selective memory when it comes to their own history…it’s time they remember things how they actually were, and remove the symbols of the Soviet oppression and occupation!
It's not like Germans kiled tousends in Baltic states during occupation
@@petarcvele1243 Do you know any 3rd Reich monument in Latvia? So it can be taken down.
In my own country, white Supremacists are rewriting History. The Southern States don't like the idea Americans killed Americans to preserve Slavery.
Yet statues remain standing around the world of people connected to the slave trade. Very selective memory much?
The Baltic countries were occupied by the Soviet Union, as was the rest of Imperial Russia. But under the Emperor they were all part of Russia, not occupied, but part of the whole. Like Finland and Poland. The West financed the Russian coup d'état (1917) wrongly called the Russian Revolution. So the West is to blame for all of Europe's miseries over the past 100 years.
Bravo Latvia!! Excellent job!!! 🇱🇻🇺🇲🇺🇦
I HOPE THEY VISIT YOUR MOTHER AND WIFE....
For what???
For freedom away from any RuZZian influence.
@@marvelchuruk7052 For giving you the finger.
Why dont you demolish all European monument in US to make Indians happy. Do you have that courage.
Thats what freedom looks like. Well done to Latvia to distance itself from fascist little russia
This is what barbarians look like.
Latvia is the fascist country.
U mean Ork looks like. They should have not invaded Ukraine if they wanted to keep the status quo. They reap what they sow. What they planted is what they harvested.
@@nikkotan2840 war with monuments is a sign of inferiority
@@Lastochka720 demolishing Bolshevism and it’s symbols is a sign of strength, but you comrade love your statues of mass murder Lenin. You pray to him like to a religious figure.
great job latvia! No more friendship and respect for these criminals
lol
They’ll be back next week and beg for energy gas etc
@@samuelgalea7679 Week passed. No begging so far
But fully sell yourself to other criminals 😂
Fuck yea!! The soviet union will now continue to remain a distant memory
Can't delete history
Of course,but this will increase prosecution of Russians
@@joexavier4070 Lies.
We should not forget so it does not comeback.
@@lukaszczernal It did in Ukraine. even with monuments
The symbols of empire, slavery and tyranny go away. It is a victory for freedom.
it is sure that by not speaking forget all the positive aspects that the USSR could bring, and to what point its fall has been catastrophic for the large part of the population
@@Alex-lz3ig yes what the ussr could bring was god but what it did bring was nothing but misery for the people whose countries were occupied.
Don't be surprised other forms of tyranny will appear from now on.
Nice job Latvia, a monument of Soviet occupation is gone.
Are you a fascist?
Its an idiotic thing to do and they will regret it.
@@piccalillipit9211 the idiotic things they will regret is joining to russia
@@piccalillipit9211 yea
How they will regret it exactly? just curious
Latvians are good people, and we should commemorate their brave resistance against the soviets in the beginning of the 90ies instead.
What brave resistance they were given up independence they didn't have to fight for it
Every day more and more people in the West are turning against their governments, these tiny quasi-nations are begging to be their new bootlickers, I just can’t have any respect for people like that
We should also commemorate the brave resistance of the Eastern Germans that fought for their national re-unification. Particularly, the great German resistance leader, Herr Gorbaschow
@@petarcvele1243 You that unaware? They had the protests and even formed a million person line as a recall. They knew the risks of openly opposing the regime, but they still went out. If russians could do that today, the war in ukraine would be over.
@@petarcvele1243 You may want to recall the coup they thwarted... that doesn't really rhyme with "given up", now does it?
According to Russia, the Latvians didn't topple the monument, but a Russian soldier mistakenly leaning on it. 😂
No my friend, in Soviet Russia, monuments topple you
That’s so true 😂😂😂
))
I heard it was someone smoking with a bottle of vodka
A small earthquake did it !
No, it is the wind!
No ! definitely the heat melt it!
I read lots of comments on videos like these. Westerners try to be objective, by hearing out all sides of the story. Some of westerners might think "russian population in the Baltics have good point!" No they don't! Do not be deceived! Those people, living here in European Union, for decades, without even trying to learn the language and worshiping the past, are not right. They did not become second class citizens after the fall of USSR, they were not victims of taking away something from them, as they claim. They had been brought here and settled after WWII by USSR. Thus Orcland is trying to pretend these lands have always been theirs. They have not been orkish! Baltic values, mentality, culture and lifestyle have always been leaning towards the west, even during USSR times. Yet they dirtied our cultures and it is very hard to get rid of it's effects: culture of basic strength, hillbilyism (maroz), alcohol culture, homophobia, misogynism, hatred towards the different, etc. We have to change; take the best from the West, reject their negatives, completely reject soviet past and forge a new future.
Absolutely, well said.
I'm really not seeing many Westerners doing any such thing.
I completely agree with your about the Russians in the Baltic States (and the Ukraine) but slinging mud at your allies is a silly move.
@@edwardkenworthy7013 I do find commentary from them. Unless they are russki, pretending to be yous.
@@exlibrisas There are an awful lot of Westerners buying into and reproducing Russian rhetoric. Even if it's not being flagrantly pro-Russian... just picking up pieces like the complaints about energy or homelessness or 'it's not our business'. Russia are masters at identifying fissures that can be exploited and at muddying the waters. The West (and Ukraine, in my view) have done a really poor job of representing the jeopardy in this situation. The consequence is to not appreciate the pressing relevance of the struggle to each and everyone of us. I think that there have been reasons for playing down the danger, but I also think that they have ultimately been counterproductive and, as such, a different presentation is required.
@@maireboy Feel better?
Does anyone remember that the Second World War was started jointly by an attack on Poland, Germany on September 1, 1939, and Russia on September 17, 1939. This was the result of the Ribentrop-Molotov Pact.
Ruzzians and capitalists like to forget those details
Yes everyone remembers. It's all you guys ever talk about.
Dude, this stuff was said about 10 million times just in the last decade...Yes, we know!!!
Russians don't know it. Their history books are fairy tales. They love considering themselves as WWII biggest heroes and liberators and put everything else aside.
@@TOFKAS01 And yet choose to ignore. You fav tankie was fasch.
Interesting how many people go:
"Russia is best. Russia will take Latvia"
You don't even know what Latvia went trough to get out of the soviet union
Some will go: "What? Latvia didn't do anything to get independence"
Yes they did Latvians did a lot to try and get their independence
Barricades, The Baltic line. Latvia couldn't start to get a real military because WW2 started
Latvians were sent to gulag's or killed for speaking their own language
so were other country citizens
Some people in this very comment section for some reason love the red army
That monument wasn't a war monument it was a victory monument it staying there made Latvia look like it was still a soviet country
It isn't, Latvia is a independent sovereign country that still stands to this day
And is now around 105 years old from the first time of independence
Long live our country Latvia
Well done Latvia, we need to erase the occupiers memorials. Support from Poland.
And one day, some ukranian people will forget nationalist ideas and things like statues of stepan bandera will be destroyed 😉
🇺🇦🤝🇵🇱
Support Poland and Latvia from Ukraine 💪
Great 👏👏👏 May the Latvian citizens live in peace and freedom ❤️❤️❤️ Greetings from Sweden 🇸🇪
Tack från Lettland
POOR Sweden, like Karachi
Since this event - straight opposit. And our goverment even work on more limitation for russians here in Latvia. Our president just ruined all the peace.
@@HELESPONTify Karachi is at least 1 million times better than Moscow! 😂
And Pakistan is not a dictatorship like Russia! It is at least possible to call a war a "war" in Pakistan.
And btw, I follow the 'Trybals' channel, very nice people!
Dont touch me swedenistan! I dont want imigrants.
Welldone Latvia.
А что ты так печешься, семь раз не латыш, не русский!
@@sz6764 Freedom to express himself, unlike what exists in RF
@@mis4nthr0p3 А что ж тогда конспирируешься, если такая свобода? НЕ побй в колодец из которого пьёшь!
This should have been done many decades earlier. And if the nostalgic russian speaking people are not happy about it, they can leave asap the country and cross the border in direction of Russia.
Excactly✌️✌️
They don't want live in Russia.
@@edgarLV then they can deal with monuments being taken down
Or russia can invade latvia
Calling for ethnic cleansing?
If russians in latvia have so much sympathy for mother Russia why don’t they go back?
Because Russians have lived in the area for longer than the state of Latvia existed?
For the same reasoons why children of russian politics all live or study abroad. They say they hate it but at the same time they love taking adventage of it.
We ask them that same question last 30 years. No anser still...
I love uk, but i do not want to live there, should i stop loving uk?
@@haniffhaniff5764 Do what you want. The pproblem with Russia is Russian people still don't understand they can not force anybody to love them. Being Nato member is a choice while being Russia's puppet state is often made by force.
Just remember; Soviet Russia invaded Latvia before Germany did.
Correct. Interesting how people defending Russia here in the comments don't seem to mention that tiny bit of VERY IMPORTANT AND RELEVANT HISTORICAL FACT!
But the best thing is that these large killing monsters crushed against each other at the same time. No one knows the possible history if otherwise...
Yep, and then they reocupied Latvia again after Germany had lost the war, and they were never ' liberated ' like the western world was, they had to continue living under soviet oppression until 1990 !
Berlin should do the same! And give the space back to peaceful people.
Yes !!! Totally agree!!! The one in Berlin has to go
@@richardgonzales6289 You will provoke a civil war. You clearly don’t know the eastern Germans.
@@MetallicReg East Germans hammered the Berlin wall into pieces with only handtools when they got liberated from sovjet occupation.
@@drunkenpumpkins7401 Again. You don’t know what you are speaking about.
The unification has nothing to do with it.
@@MetallicReg Eastern Germans are less evolved Germans.
They are poorer, more religious and more fanatic.
Their way of thinking is similar to Russians.
The best joke of the Twentieth Century was that when 'the Revolution' finally came, it was Communism that was overthrown.
How's being a NATO/EU colony like?
So being under USSR 2.0 is better?👹
@@biodiversityfanatic2454 feels good nobody gets deported to Siberia or shot then thrown into mass graves like the poles and manner others did
@@biodiversityfanatic2454 Fantastic, i have no complaints at all
@@biodiversityfanatic2454 that doesn't even make sense, how can an organisation have a colony?
we latvians have always called this the monument of occupation. Every latvian always wanted to do this only we were scared of russia and tensions that it would create between local vatniks and us. Now was the perfect moment. The pressure was so high from the society that we would have done it for ourselves if the government wouldn't do it.
Nazism is rising again in latvia :(
Exactly !, it had to be done, now or never.
and what did u get from it, just destroying history, pretending like it never happened, you never learn anzthing
Now you are a puppet of the us... Not much has changed...
God bless Ukraine and keep her people safe and strong!
GODdog=say10
BEleß?
Ugrain*
PEople=Idiots
Asafe" ISis'aPRI/SonBOX
USSR had more Ukranian leaders than Russians. Trotsky, Ukranian, Kruscherov Ukranian, Breznev, Ukranian. Even Gorbachev was of Ukranian descent.
Stalin who ruled the USSR for 31 years with an iron fist was Georgian.
Europeans have gone brain dead.
USSR had 15 different republics. Russia was just one of them.
@@danwelterweight4137 Russia was the one in control. The rest 14 would have gladly left the soviet union if not Russia. Once there was a right opportunity they all declared independence.
Latvian people can make a lot of money with this monument 🤣 but they destroy. 🤣
Yes. May God's grace and mercy abound in Ukraine. May she be blessed and prosper greatly!
About time. Could have been made 30 years ago!
Not really. There was an agreement.
Could not, russia agreed to give independence and to withdraw their military bases from Latvia, if Latvia will sign agreement, that all ussr monuments in Latvia will stay untouched and Latvia will take care of them, also we have 25% local russians living in Latvia. And of course threat, that russia would invade in case we start to destroying monuments. We are small country with low population. By the way, that is russias tactics, to send in russians in other countries(they used that when they occupied half europe) and then, to threat nations. They invaded Donbas and Luhansk by saying, that they are saving russians in those regions. I wish that Latvia could send all of russians back where they belongs, because it is a threat to our existence ! Well, it depends who rules the russia of course. In this case, it is a threat !
Wonder if being in NATO will be good enough defence ?
@@Alex-pj8nz imagine being so salty that a country actually decides over it's own territory, that you comment a threat on the internet
@@Alex-pj8nz More than enough! Russia underdoing their own legacy! NATO are very strong, clearly visible in Ukraine
Great Latvia God bless you all
No they promote sin The Father it -
@@jorgeabuauad Sin? You do know that the USSR was also largely anti-religious right? lmao
Congrats Latvians!! Greatings from Lithuania!
❤
Ačiū,brachka!
Ethnic Russians in Latvia can always opt to move to Russia, right?
Why would they, being full fledged citizens of Latvia?
@@user-pc4i8ege55 Full fleged "Non-Citizens"
yea thats what latvian government now trying to force them to do
@taj majal they don't want to because it's soo bad in russia and russian culture is making everything around you worse that's why they are ruining latvia too😀😀😀
@@-kenjo-421reminds me something 🤔
Jawohl
Well done! Greetings from Estonia
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities." Voltaire
It was a pretty atrocious statue
S Winegar : Atrocious like most Soviet Era architecture and atrocious like the whole Soviet Era was.
Is this a comment about toppling the monument or Putins leadership in Russia?
Exactly. "Saving The World from fascism" is unimaginably absurd, when all You need to see is Molotov-Ribentrop pact. That man's grandparents were killed in a war their own leaders wanted and started.
@@paidwitness797 Both.
Congrats Latvia from USA!👍✌
West Virgini, Lousiana, Alabama, Missisipi whorse that Ucraina, people sleep in car
hahah usa promote depravity and cultural marxism
Hope you realise that many countries around the world regard the American flag as a symbol of murder, tyranny and oppression.
😂
🇺🇸🇱🇻🇺🇦
Now, it's time for the Soviet Treptower and Tiergarten monuments in Berlin to be taken down. Good riddance, I say. Maintaining these monuments are a waste of valuable land and resources in the community.
Don't Germans have anything better to do?
@@limedickandrew6016 maybe before but now russia put all eyes on it and countries are severing all ties to the old russian power and its symbols. Try maybe not being the new conquering expansionist power in Europe.
They should have come down long ago, they only represent the Soviet occupation and oppression.
must be inflation effect... 🤣🤣🤣
@@limedickandrew6016 Of course, but is not like there is a limit on "better" things. We can do more better things and also remove the Soviet monuments celebrating ... the Soviet Union and its oppression more than anything else.
Full support from Lithuania. Well done!
Wahsinn, danke my fellow national socialists, we will get our revenge on Russia for der krieg and wipe out the people of the Donbass.
Beautiful.
Dont you want to see more beautiful in America, destroying all European monuments by American Indian, Lol.
@@arturobuco Yes Zombie.....
@@greatgalaxy2118 what does America have to do with that monument getting destroyed?? Didn’t your dog Putin educated u well??
@@greatgalaxy2118 Ah another fascist troll it seems. Drawing false parallels. Notice that the west is in the middle of reconciliation wirh first nations while...russia is in the process of bullying or attempting to bully its former vassal states. But the alleged fascist troll will try to deflect, or project, or spam irrelevnt info, or lie if theory is correct. Not saying its a confirmed russian fascist troll yet though.
@@abcdedfg8340P.S. Friend guess you are now totally enlightened with the FACIST WEST, and its war mongering TENDENCY through out the course of history of Human Civilization.
BTW, If you see the Graph of war/killing, The West ranks in the top position.
As a Latvian, i personally enjoyed this. The fact stands that there was, is and will be a divide in our country going foward. We are happy that the communist statue is gone, because fhe commies were people who oppresed Ethical Latvians and our language. They wanted the communist way and we finally got our freedom in 1990.
If you know the history, you will understand. If you dont, thats not our problem and any russian who thinks not speaking our national language and living here is acceptable can take a one way ticket over our border. We wont tolerate it anymore.
If it suprises you, most Russians who live here use russian as a daily communication language. Ive been talked to by a russian cashier who spoke to me only in russian and then when i said to speak latvian she said to me " why dont you know russian, you should speak it " and from that day on i hate everything to do with them, because they still think they have the right to tell us how to speak.
you started to tell her to speak latvian
What can you expect from the Russian? They always think themselves above everything!
Bravo Latvia! Hopefully many more countries in the former Eastern Block to follow with the removal of these symbols of tyranny, oppression and imperialism. I yearn for a day that russians will wake up one day and do the same in Russia, by removing the mausoleum, removing the current KGB regime and join the Western civilization once and for all and let got of imperialistic and tyrannical tendencies. Слава Україні, жыве Беларусь и... свобода России
Its a monument about 2 world war.
The Soviet Union, despite it's flaws, git the first man in Space, had several world chess champions and was the union of 14 Republics with thousands of ethnic groups.... Besides, 20 million soviets died to defeat Nazism...it's a big disrespect to destroy those monuments like that
@@leonardocontreras9690 it's also a big disrespect to those ordinary minority who relocation to Siberia to die after the war. A good deed for the war effort doesn't mean to subjugate the people there.
Join the "non-imperialistic" West?
@@leonardocontreras9690 15 rep.
If they like Russia so much, they should move there.
That is the definition of ethnic cleansing.
@@srdjanrudic Not if they go by their own choice, we are just encouraging them, nothing wrong with that.
@@srdjanrudic are you a serb by chance?
@@ZhovtoBlakytniy Da :D
@CrimeaIsUkraine Russia will never be able to do Ukraine like American did Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria
Better late than never! Great job 🇱🇻
Of course you are right dear friend. Now people in US need to demolish all European monument so that American Indians could celebrate it.
Yes you are right American Indians aslo should think like that.
@@greatgalaxy2118 US government formally apologized for the occupancy of Indian land and has been paying lots of benefits to the local tribes, even though most of the occupation happened during the imperial times when the US didn't exist. The USSR and Russia never apologized for the occupancy of the Baltic countries and never paid any reparation.
Better would be never unless both sides agreed. This was one sided and the contract was broken by the Latvian side.
@@greatgalaxy2118 they should. And they did.
As for you, cope harder. Baltics and Europe are free to do exactly what you CLAIMED they were doing for over a decade. Your surprised Pikachu face is priceless.
Richtig so! Ich verstehe generell nicht, warum die nicht früher abgerissen wurden. Dieses Zeichen des bösen muss weg.
Putin hat nichts mit der UDSSR zu tun. Er ist ein Mafia Gangster der Geld und sich selbst liebt, die UDSSR wollte eine bessere Welt erschaffen.
@@llothar68 Das stimmt, aber er nutzt es für sich, die Erinnerungen und es ist ein gutes Zeichen gegen die Unterdrückung durch die UdSSR gegenüber Latvia.
Slava Ukrine for the sake of future generations.
свою славу засунь в одно место! устраивай этот ор на своей Родине! А здесь ты никто!!!
Wrong country
@@milk_chemistry Oh, this is related allright. Don't doubt that for a second.
Great move! Thank You Latvia.
As the Monument Falls, the Latvians can directly-and-indirectly say; It was Completely Incorrect for the Russians to say that the Latvian/s is an Inferior Race and that the Russians must know that it is "More Wise for Anyone" to deal a Neighbour Country as Peer, as Co-equal and share with neighbours the Goals-and-Harvests of Peace-and-Prosperity. GOD bless the Latvian Government, its Beautiful People and the Truth Seekers.
sad for all. But this move is not positive on Litvia's relationship with Russia.
@@teckmenglee8060 so what Latvia is in NATO the Russians can't do anything to them anymore
@@smartguy360 provoke conflict because You think you have backup is what got us in Ukraine
@@sharwama992 except Ukraine did not provoke Russia. Russia wanted Ukraine one way or another.
The Baltic countries are independent and decide for themselves what they do not want standing any longer. But they do not decide if the nobility demands all their values back, then the countries must either give the nobility all their values back or pay large compensations. International law will require it.
Good job brothers and sisters. Hope all eastern europe can get rid off this plague called soviet union. Best wishes from Lithuania.
I personally don’t agree with removing history. Should we remove all Turkish monuments in Balkans just because they were horrible to us.
@@Mrdinomist if they tried to do genocide on your people then yes
@@Mrdinomist Forgetting one's past is betrayal, and the Soviet Union's contribution to the world is being erased. It is possible that 100 years later, people on earth will not know who was the first to go into space.
@@Mrdinomist Yes, all Turkish monuments should be removed as well. They were horrible and never brought anything good to the world. Those monuments are just wasting space, that could be used for good things. For history we have history books.
The monument was nicknamed "monument of occupation" or "pillar of shame" because it was very well visible and always reminded us that USSR won.
@@jeckjeck3119 i did not mean united states, i meant latvians
It's not a "monument of occupation". It's a monument of history. History can never be changed. Whatever you like it or not - doesn't matter. I, for example, might not like Stalin and Gulag concentration camps. But Stalin ruled our country. And Gulag was real. Of course I can pretend that it never happened, but it all real and part of our history.
@@СергейМонин-д7с yet the statues of Stalin were removed ... LMFAO
@@СергейМонин-д7с Statues generally interpreted to represent occupation and oppression are daily reminders that the people's will at one time meant nothing to the occupiers. Good riddance.
@@milojan1379 history always repeats itself 😆
Thank you Latvia. Let's do it everywhere.
Including the usa
@@richardnixon7248 they already did.
@@alberto148 yeah, and it's awesome
AGREED: Lets do it everywhere, do you dare to do it in USA, common lets demolish all European monuments to make American Indians Happy, Shall we?
I hope they finally do the same with those two memorials in Berlin.
Does memorials were placed for defeating nazisam and for people that have bean kiled by Germans but I think you don't like that soviets won
Agreed
@@petarcvele1243 Those rapist memorials
You probably wanted the Germans to win ww2.
@@Zopiexx read my previous comment.
I am ethnic Latvian. Unfortunately I couldn't see the destruction of the obelisk in-person because the exact moment of its fall was a secret due to safety reasons, but I felt goose bumps in a good way when looking at it falling, even after watching dozens of times. Our ancestors fought for independence and in a way, 25th August 2022 is the second day of independence for Latvia.
And around the world on the 25th of August 2022 the decent Democratic world aplauded you.
Don't worry, we'll restore this beautiful monument soon))
Pec pieminekla nogashanas dzive Latvija bus ka USA?
@@alexstepanov5394 Yeaa becurse Russia is gonna be dumb enoug to attack a NATO member right?
No brain to support mononationalism. Brain needs to appreciate diversity and multiculturalism. Mono nationalism has nothing to do with democracy or freedom because democracy appreciate rights of different people while freedom stops where disrespect to freedom of other people start.
Love to see it bring it down
I never understood the monuments to the Soviet army in Europe. The Soviet Union started the second world war by attacking Poland with Germany in September 1939. The Soviet Union was an aggressor country that invaded and committed genocide against Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Romania and which, at the end of the war, subjugated 1/2 of Europe. To pay homage to this horror was beyond my capacity to comprehend. I applaud the Latvians
They didn't start WW2 lmao, thats such a weak uneducated say. It was smth called the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact, USSR barely had any fighting if any in Poland, they just moved in to "secure it" was it wrong? yes, they start a world war? not at all, that's a dumb theory far too stretched.
@@royale7620 be sure that more and more people will think in that simplified way. Just like many are thinking that Serbia started ww1 by killing Franz. Not even mentioning that the Austrians were ockupiers
Was a giant waste of concrete and steel. Now build a proper beautiful park in its place.
Nope.
The park is already there, a natural (I think) river flow through it. All the walkways are made out of pot holes, and that pylon was the only actual building there
Now the all beauty of the park is gone.
Latvians and Estonians were second class citizens under the Russian boot. These countries were kept poor with any resources going to mother Russia. Now they are thriving!
No
You are mistaken
Tell me where you got your information?
Yes ..... What historical upgrade we have here from Russian boot to American boot .🥳
@@anbang4531 HUGE difference! All you have to do is look at the aftermath of WW2. America created the Marshall Plan to help rebuild Europe and jump-start their economies. We even offered this help to Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union. Stalin said NYET! The Soviets looted Eastern Europe (even their allies) instead of rebuilding it.
@@wildmouse5888 Too true, That's why many of the eastern block countries were so behind in their economies. Power was diverted from Estonia to heat Russian homes Doesn't take much imagination to think that the same thing was happening in Latvia and Lithuania etc, etc.
Excellent, removing those symbols of oppression.
If you forget about history it's destined to repeat itself.... don't agree with this. Massive worldwide dictatorship will come in a foreseeable future.
The usa oppressed the world with its invasions all over the world, what you got to say about that?
@@JOEL00111 Usual whataboutism from ruSSia. The US hasn’t forcefully taken any land from another country in almost 200 years, unlike ruSSia that steals land about once a decade.
Gerhard Schröder will be shedding a tear.
Dont worry, he will wipe up the tears with 500€ bills!
watching the russians in the comments shedding a tear by sodomizing themselves with tv remotes is hilarious
Schröder doesn't care about Soviet nostalgia. He cares about his personal wealth.
*schröding
"It was a beautiful monument demolition. A perfect monument demolition. People tell me they've never seen such as perfect monument demolition."
Тебя тоже денацифицируем 😀🇷🇺🚀
@@ИванНеизвестный-е7н Russian army should try to come to the Baltic states. What are you waiting for? Better to do that instead of being a keyboard computer warrior 🙂
Could be a Donnie Trump quote.
Destroying statues is Barbarism.
@AAA When ISIS destroyed ancient temples, they were also "Special monuments" to worship ancient Gods. so it was justified to destroy them?
Well done Latvia.. you may be a small country but you are a lot braver and more honest than most
what bravery to spit on the graves of the dead and their sacrifice! such heroes, so much freedom!
Brave? Brave!?
This is dumb! This will further escalate and worsen the relationships we were building these long years. Despicable.
@@ben-taobeneton3945 Are you saying that after we regained independence from Russia that invaded us, long years were spent building relationships with that same country? It was politicians with old soviet mentality who kept close ties with Russia and tried to build this relationship you are talking about.
We have always wanted to remain neutral and not get too friendly with Russia, because it is a country that cannot be trusted. And you can now see evidence of that in Ukraine.
In our country we can build and demolish monuments as we please. If you don't like that, mother Russia awaits you ;)
@@ТимурСарсембин-ж9м They were communists they dont deserve respect
@@ben-taobeneton3945 C0 mmun1sts don't deserve respect
Good job!
@Ilia channel What? Putin is fascist xd
@Ilia channel butthurted, মাঁডাঁরঁষোঁডঁ? 😆😆😆😆
We fought the wrong enemy.
That was Patton.
@@alexsilent5603 Molotov was a nonwhite like every other R*ssian, and his memory will be erased just like that of every other R*ssian.
@@olivergarcia2304 You spelled Putin wrong
If the majority want them removing then fine. Unlike other countries removing colonial era monuments because a minority have complained
Colonial era monuments should be thrown back to its origin country
I bet you are from the US!!!
Minority? People who are descendants of people from the colonial era are not a minority; they are the majority.
I guess that’s more important than a wealth of citizens and economic growth
Populism... No other thing would cause as much resonance as this.
a nation can do more than two things at once.
That monstrosity looked like cover art from the 1984 novel.
Or a large middle finger to Latvia
Welcome to USSR .. where it's not you who looks at the monuments but monuments look at YOU!
Art died in the USSR
@@matikaevur6299 🤣🤣
Lincoln monument from? Man in high castle? O no, it's great symbol of democracy!
How about a PEACE and FRIENDSHIP Memorial in its place? Celebrating Long Lasting Peace in Europe and Friendship among European Nations.
Good idea. But that location is not the right one. At least, not now. Because of incresining anger from russians. Any monument will be demolished constantly. I am absolutely sure of it and i even understand it. As long as i remember myself, russians went there on may 9. to put thousands of flowers. Like thousands! It should be added that the flowers at the Latvian Freedom Monument had never even third of it.
No. Let there be latvian victory park which was planned in 1930's
Let's actually win the war first shall we?
haven't you noticed the recent peaceful war in Ukraine?
I wouldn't be celebrating peace just yet with Russian forces close to their doorstep.
You might be Russian by ethnicity but you are either Latvian by nationality or not. If your loyalties lies towards russia, then you need to sell your house and leave.
1 in 4 citizens are ethnic Russians 462,662 approximately. If those people left Latvia would virtually cease to exist
@@shanelambert6192 Most ethnic Russians were colonists ready to destroy Latvian culture as their Communist regime murdered and exiled Latvian civilians.
@@shanelambert6192 If they want to be Russian and suck Putin off, they can leave. I'm sure the Latvian people, much like the Estonians can figure out how to make a successful nation without bowing to the oppressor.
@@shanelambert6192 But quality would improve dramatically.
people like you is why we risk losing peace in europe. america is not going to save you, if you poke the bear. we wont risk nuclear annhilation for you. so you better find a way to make peace with russia.
All we Europeans are near to out Baltic Friends, we will never leave you alone in front of russian arrogance.
Germany should do the same and remove all its Soviet monuments.
Germany go in Colaps
Yes they should! 🇱🇻
I'm not sure many of those are still around.
The main building of the GDR government (named "Palast der Republik") in Berlin was demolished years ago.
That house was also an eyesore, but came not even close to this monument.
What's mostly left in eastern Germany are the "Plattenbauten", Soviet era apartment buildings.
@@Cau_No There are many soviet monuments in Germany. just look up "Soviet Monuments In Berlin ' on TH-cam and you will see then , unfortunately .😝😝😝
Totally support the Baltic States in doing this. The Baltic countries should also demand an apology from Russia for the crimes committed by the Soviet Union during their occupation of Latvia Estonia and Lithuania.
Demand from Russia? 😂
The Baltic countries were part of Imperial Russia. The Georgian Stalin occupied the Baltic countries. Today, the Baltics are independent, so they have never been occupied by Russia. Be aware the nobility can demand all values returned by the Baltic countries or receive large compensations.
Bravo Letonia. 🇦🇱❤️🇺🇦🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪
“More than 150,000 Soviet soldiers perished in the fight for the liberation of Latvia during WW2.The wicked are always ungrateful, and there is no vice greater than that of ingratitude. Shame on you Latvians!
Please, dont lie. We all know about Molotov and Ribentrop.
@@HD7737 We all know about Molotov and Ribentrop, yes we do! but being ignorant about 150000 Soviet soldiers who had died liberating Latvia, and denied that it did not even happen is OK for you? It proves that my statement about cowardly and ungrateful Latvian mob is 100%. correct!
@@freddiethompson58 liberate from freedom?
comrade Bolshevik, those fallen soldiers have their cemeteries, nobody is touching them. But your bombastic, poor-taste, red-fascist monuments shall be destroyed, like we did in Poland.
@@HD7737 they didn't have freedom under either regime
Full support from 🇸🇪!
They should rebuild a new monument a modern one to those who sacrificed their lives in WW2
One that everyone can get behind
Or just let it go?
Thats not possible.
@@lilymay7171 how can we let such an event go? Its happening again with Russia and China
@@moonlightabove I meant, just let the monument go. No need to get philosophical about world wars, not entering that argument.
Many people in the Baltics are of Russian descent and watch Russian State TV.
I wish for the descent of this monument to be a wake up call.
I've seen couple of civil wars. Usually it starts like this with attacks on history soon followed by attack on people.
Not sure if this generalisation is true. Say, in my country Lithuania there are only 5-6% of Russians, and the percentage of those who watch Russian State TV is lower. Some Lithuanian Russians are pro-Ukraine -- they support Ukraine just as much as we do. Putinism isn't always down to nationality.
When Russians enters a country,they make it there own.
Nice, finaly it has been done, Latvians can finaly rejoice. Freedom is here to stay.
Freedom to be slaves to bureaucrats in Washington D.C.? Yeah, great freedom /s
Freedom is never here to stay. Enjoy it while it lasts.
😂
Great job on the 'Special One-Way Repositioning Operation.'
Bravo! A free and independent Latvia celebrates! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🇱🇻🇱🇻🇱🇻
History needs to be taught and remembered but we don't need to glorify it or show it off. Throw those things in musuems and historic campuses.
In the trash. The , "liberation", they speak of was conducted by the greatest mass murder in history. Brought nothing but oppression for decades. Russia has always been garbage.
Are you a History professor?
Agree with that. We had Stalin, Gulag and many other things. We can pretend that it never happened. But it all happened. History can't be changed.
@@Diana1000Smiles I know my history.
@@derwolfpack3599 Oh, good. I know lots of World History. I especially dislike WARS.
Latvia was one of the richest republics of the USSR. Latvia had some of the most advanced enterprises, the standard of living in it was the best in the USSR. The country grew and developed. And now what? Another loan from the EU, a closed enterprise, another demolished Soviet monument and another anti-record for population growth. In my opinion, the Latvian people, like all other peoples of the USSR, were deceived by local party leaders who wanted to rob the common people and concentrate all power in their hands under the slogans of pseudo-nationalism and pseudo-freedom.
Whats pseudo about the objective lack of freedom inside the Soviet Union? Latvian economy only grew after it escaped soviet boot. And their people seem to be happy not to live in the communist reality.
Bravo !!! Good for Latvia 🇱🇻 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Every day I laugh, as Putin has managed to do exactly the opposite of what he wanted!
me too.
until I remember his nuclear arsenal
@@julianshepherd2038 We have a lot of fools laughing at Putin
Who knows what he wants. Maybe a N-Korea type of dictatorship which is helped by being isolated and surrounded by "enemies". That way public opinion doesn't matter and he can stay in power as long as he lives.
@@Alex-pj8nz And a lot of very smart people laughing too. Putin made his biggest mistake.
@@Alex-pj8nz So you just come into comments to insult people? You must be Russian.
I don't like Communists and don't like the Soviet Union, but it was a piece of history that commemorated the victims of the war. I feel conflicted. Not sure whether I support this destruction or not.
We have a place to commemorate the fallen soldiers and it's called "Brāļu kapi". Normal Latvians go there. But most ethnic russians in Latvia who went to the giant monument choose to commemorate on 9th of May by getting drunk, using forbidden memorabilia, fireworks, leaving garbage and getting confrontational with local population. Covid made restrictions, as seen in the video - only flower were allowed, and now, after war in Ukraine, we said - enough. No more glorying of Red Army and occupation, because that's what it was about.
What victims of the war you are talking about? I hope you mean those Eastern European folk murdered by "liberating " Red Army?
I don't like the history or ideology but I do find some Soviet Brutalism architecture quite wonderful.
@Gerbrand:Do you think Putin and his army are upset about smashing Ukraine?
I feel the same. I understand you do not want to see such monument in your neighborhood but this is part of history. So maybe instead of destroying it some modifications could be done to it to reflect how people feel about it currently? Tell the story what happend after the WW2.
Well done! Love from Lithuania ❤️
As a Lithuanian American, I’ve been very pleased to see my Baltic brethren standing up against the modern day red terror
All they need now is the 🌈 flag.
@@patrickbateman783 You will never be white mahmood, stop LARPing
@@patrickbateman783 It would be cool.
@@patrickbateman783 Fellas..
@@patrickbateman783 No, you're laughing, but that's the 'povestochka' they have to offer there.
Destroying history is 'never' wisw, unless you wish to repeat it.
@Philosophy_First "dum dum" that's your best intelectual argument? I'm sure your country is full of monuments to totalitarian rulers, like most European countries, destroy them all. It is your coutry. In my country I want to preserve the memories of the good 'and. The bad.
Finally this monument of people misery and grief going down.
cry babies will always cry lol
@@frostflower5555 ?
@@wilcowen6284 👶😭
He who is ashamed of his past does not deserve a better future.
And Russia is ashamed of its past and ashamed of its present. Therefore they became an agressive, fascist country.
@@TOFKAS01😂
I dont see how destroying a statue to commemorate the victory over fascism in ww2 will bring people together suddenly.
I either! Specially taking into account that baltics and ukranians, like so many other peoples of the USSR also formed part of the Red Army. Ukranian troops, officers and leaders contributed with a significant role in the pushback of the Whermacht and taking of the capital Berlin.
Monuments, buildings, strongholds ... form part of history and of the heritage of a country. We cannot decide on their fate based on a short term focus based on current political and ideological aims, religion included.
I can see why people remove a statue that constantly remembers and celebrates the start of 50 years of Russian occupation.