Israel’s Foreign Ministry slammed the production in Latvia of a show celebrating the life of alleged Nazi war criminal Herbert Cukurs. Titled “Cukurs, Herbert Cukurs,” the musical premiered earlier this month. The play is based on the life of the deputy commander of the Arajs Kommando force that participated in the near annihilation of Latvian…
The entrance to a nursery school in Latvia owned by an traditionalist lawmaker featured a German-language sign that advertised the establishment as being “Jew-free.” The posting of the sign, which reads “Judenfrei,” was revealed Monday by the Latvian daily Vesti Segodniya. The paper published a photo of the sign on the fence of the Pucite…
Latvians who fought in the local unit of Nazi Germany’s Waffen SS held their annual parade on Sunday, an event which the government feared could raise tensions with Russia as former Soviet states watch events in Ukraine with growing concern. Around 1,500 people – veterans in their 80s and 90s and their supporters – marched…
Latvia’s prime minister said she would fire a cabinet minister planning to march with local SS veterans. Einars Cilinskis, Latvia’s minister for environment and regional development, said he would attend the March 16 rally in Riga, Reuters reported Friday. Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma’s spokesman Andis Blinds said: “Taking into account that the minister has said…
Latvia’s government warned people to avoid an annual march of World War Two Waffen SS veterans through its capital Riga on Sunday, citing tensions over Ukraine. Many of Latvia’s large Russian-speaking minority say the event distorts history, honours Nazism and insults the victims of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intervention in Ukraine’s Crimea, on…
Latvian President Andris Berzins has yet to confirm his participation in a memorial ceremony for Jewish Holocaust victims during President Shimon Peres’ visit to Latvia next week. Senior officials in Jerusalem say they believe Berzins does not want to appear to be taking responsibility for acts committed by the Nazis together with local collaborators. Peres,…
Modernist painter Mark Rothko’s hometown in Latvia devoted a new centre to the late artist’s work on Wednesday. The Mark Rothko Arts Centre opened in the eastern town of Daugavpils, the Baltic country’s second biggest city, with six paintings from the private collection of the artist’s daughter and son, who were present at the launch….
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