> **9 May celebrations banned by law**
>
> **On Thursday, 20 April, the Saeima adopted in two readings the law “On the Prohibition of Certain Public Events on 9 May”, which has been declared urgent, banning all public events on that day except for Europe Day events.**
>
> Earlier, the Saeima gave conceptual approval to a draft law which, as last year, would this year also designate 9 May as a day of commemoration for the victims and the dead in Ukraine.
>
> However, the Commission for Human Rights and Public Affairs, which is responsible for the progress of the draft law, took into account the proposal of the Saeima’s Legal Bureau and drafted an alternative draft law “On the ban on holding certain public events on 9 May”, which was adopted by the Parliament in two readings on Thursday.
>
> The law was supported by 79 MPs, Juris Jakovins (ZZS) abstained from voting, and the entire “Stability!” faction, non-factional MP Glorija Grevcova and MP Jānis Reirs (JV).
>
> The aim of the law is to defend the interests of the state and public security, prevent disorder, and protect public health and morals.
>
> The law also aims to prevent the denigration and undermining of Latvia’s values as a democratic and national state, including the division of society, glorification of war, military aggression, totalitarianism, violence, as well as the false representation of historical events.
>
> The law also aims to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whose sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are under threat as a result of Russian military aggression, and to commemorate those who have suffered and died in Ukraine.
>
> The law stipulates that public entertainment and festive events, meetings, processions and pickets are prohibited in public outdoor spaces throughout Latvia on 9 May. If a municipality permit is required for a public event, the municipality will not issue the permit.
>
> The law also prohibits the use of pyrotechnic articles 24 hours a day on 9 May and until 7 am on 10 May.
>
> The annotation to the law states that Latvia is an independent democratic republic, it protects its democratic state system, public security, welfare and morality, it does not allow its values to be disparaged or threatened, it does not divide society, it stands in solidarity with other countries whose sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are threatened.
>
> **”9 May symbolises the occupation and annexation of Latvia by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a day which is celebrated by a section of society as a day of praise for totalitarian and occupation regimes. It is in the interest of the Latvian state to silently express its condemnation of the unlawful policies and crimes of both the USSR and Nazi Germany, to promote public understanding of the events that took place on Latvian territory during and after the Second World War, to strengthen public historical memory, and to prevent false, inaccurate and biased coverage of historical events, thereby creating a common understanding of 9 May,” the annotation explains.**
>
> It also stresses that the state has a duty to ensure its security in all circumstances and that the precautionary principle should apply to the protection of national security, which in a democratic state governed by the rule of law means not waiting until real damage has already been done.
>
> “Reasonable suspicion of the likelihood of such harm is sufficient for the State to take effective and proportionate measures at an early stage to prevent the harm from occurring,” reads the annotation.
>
> It also states that the military offensive launched by Latvia’s border state, Russia, against Ukraine requires that the duty to protect national security be treated with special attention and that new measures to protect national security should be considered, especially in view of the fact that the hostilities launched by Russia against Ukraine constitute an unprecedented and unjustifiable aggression in 21st century Europe, which has resulted in numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed forces.
>
> “It is a flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in flagrant contravention of Russia’s obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the peremptory norms of international law, as well as of the commitments that Russia made when it signed the Budapest Memorandum and undertook to guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the annotation reads.
>
> The Explanatory Memorandum also mentions that Russia is not only a state bordering Latvia, but also a state that has long posed a greater or lesser threat to national security, including by implementing Russia’s “compatriot policy” in Latvia, and that Russia is the legal heir of the state that once occupied the Republic of Latvia and deprived Latvia and its citizens of their freedom.
>
> The annotation refers to the 2022 report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which states that last year, Russia’s policy became openly hostile not only to Ukraine, but also to the entire Western world.
>
> The Annotation also stresses that the State has a wide margin of discretion in choosing what to do to protect national security
>
> measures to be taken. In choosing such measures, respect must be had for the human rights guaranteed both by the Constitution and by international treaties.
>
> “Latvia, as a border state of the aggressor – Russia – with a relatively large number of Russian citizens, currently has a considerably wider margin of discretion to take measures to protect national security, including by restricting human rights,” the annotation reads.
>
> Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Okay guys, now this is epic
“To protect national security, including by restricting human rights”. State overregulation again, f**king shame.
We don’t allow Nazi celebrations. We won’t allow Soviet celebrations either.
I can’t wait for some vatniks to break this law and then play the victim when police shows up to arrest them
Hitler party in Jerusalem, 2023, what’s wrong with that
In Latvia, Stalin made Hitlers plans a reality.
9th of May is a very Russian thing to have on your calendar, but I remember we didn’t really attend any public gatherings (well, we passed by one in our town and) and went to a restaurant, which was super rare. I’m confused as to how this celebrates Soviet anything? I thought it was about the end of WWII?
>signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May Moscow Time).[a]
Can someone ELI5 how this glorifies any one regime (edit: or warfare as opposed to the end of war and start of peace)? I do admit to being in a bit of a bubble regarding this.
>RU propaganda started spinning the day as a “We defeated nazis and now we can defeat the West!” and generally glorifying Russian imperialism. It got out of control and instead of remembering the veterans it now used to perpetuate a message of hate towards western countries. Same with the soviet monuments, the vatniks started using it as symbol to support the invasion of Ukraine.
In short – they did this. If they kept this as a celebration of end of war and remembering all of those who did not live to see the day, no one would have a problem with that message or at least, they would see wider resistance if they tried to ban such a celebration.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Start using end of war reflection day as a propaganda tool to push your message of aggression towards Europe, receive a ban on such ‘celebrations’.
Are 8 May celebrations allowed?
Whilst Russia’s actions in Ukraine are completely wrong and views of society are completely justified, the actions to erase “Russianism” from our daily lives is like pretending the events of past never existed. We talk about the world wars and terrible actions of previous leaders, but seem to be erasing the existence of Russia.
No Europe day for Latvia?
Good.
Respect guys!
Does this effect celebrating the end of the war?
Latvia is on a roll. Great to see them getting on top of those who sympathise with Russia, and resisting Kremlin threats and propaganda. There should be no more room in Latvia for supporters of the USSR than there is for supporters of Nazi Germany.
WTF! How?! WHY?! This is some bullshit! How is the EU allowing this?!!!
17 comments
It’s in Lativian, here’s a DeepL translation:
> **9 May celebrations banned by law**
>
> **On Thursday, 20 April, the Saeima adopted in two readings the law “On the Prohibition of Certain Public Events on 9 May”, which has been declared urgent, banning all public events on that day except for Europe Day events.**
>
> Earlier, the Saeima gave conceptual approval to a draft law which, as last year, would this year also designate 9 May as a day of commemoration for the victims and the dead in Ukraine.
>
> However, the Commission for Human Rights and Public Affairs, which is responsible for the progress of the draft law, took into account the proposal of the Saeima’s Legal Bureau and drafted an alternative draft law “On the ban on holding certain public events on 9 May”, which was adopted by the Parliament in two readings on Thursday.
>
> The law was supported by 79 MPs, Juris Jakovins (ZZS) abstained from voting, and the entire “Stability!” faction, non-factional MP Glorija Grevcova and MP Jānis Reirs (JV).
>
> The aim of the law is to defend the interests of the state and public security, prevent disorder, and protect public health and morals.
>
> The law also aims to prevent the denigration and undermining of Latvia’s values as a democratic and national state, including the division of society, glorification of war, military aggression, totalitarianism, violence, as well as the false representation of historical events.
>
> The law also aims to express solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whose sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are under threat as a result of Russian military aggression, and to commemorate those who have suffered and died in Ukraine.
>
> The law stipulates that public entertainment and festive events, meetings, processions and pickets are prohibited in public outdoor spaces throughout Latvia on 9 May. If a municipality permit is required for a public event, the municipality will not issue the permit.
>
> The law also prohibits the use of pyrotechnic articles 24 hours a day on 9 May and until 7 am on 10 May.
>
> The annotation to the law states that Latvia is an independent democratic republic, it protects its democratic state system, public security, welfare and morality, it does not allow its values to be disparaged or threatened, it does not divide society, it stands in solidarity with other countries whose sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity are threatened.
>
> **”9 May symbolises the occupation and annexation of Latvia by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), a day which is celebrated by a section of society as a day of praise for totalitarian and occupation regimes. It is in the interest of the Latvian state to silently express its condemnation of the unlawful policies and crimes of both the USSR and Nazi Germany, to promote public understanding of the events that took place on Latvian territory during and after the Second World War, to strengthen public historical memory, and to prevent false, inaccurate and biased coverage of historical events, thereby creating a common understanding of 9 May,” the annotation explains.**
>
> It also stresses that the state has a duty to ensure its security in all circumstances and that the precautionary principle should apply to the protection of national security, which in a democratic state governed by the rule of law means not waiting until real damage has already been done.
>
> “Reasonable suspicion of the likelihood of such harm is sufficient for the State to take effective and proportionate measures at an early stage to prevent the harm from occurring,” reads the annotation.
>
> It also states that the military offensive launched by Latvia’s border state, Russia, against Ukraine requires that the duty to protect national security be treated with special attention and that new measures to protect national security should be considered, especially in view of the fact that the hostilities launched by Russia against Ukraine constitute an unprecedented and unjustifiable aggression in 21st century Europe, which has resulted in numerous war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Russian armed forces.
>
> “It is a flagrant violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, in flagrant contravention of Russia’s obligations under the Charter of the United Nations and the peremptory norms of international law, as well as of the commitments that Russia made when it signed the Budapest Memorandum and undertook to guarantee Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the annotation reads.
>
> The Explanatory Memorandum also mentions that Russia is not only a state bordering Latvia, but also a state that has long posed a greater or lesser threat to national security, including by implementing Russia’s “compatriot policy” in Latvia, and that Russia is the legal heir of the state that once occupied the Republic of Latvia and deprived Latvia and its citizens of their freedom.
>
> The annotation refers to the 2022 report of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, which states that last year, Russia’s policy became openly hostile not only to Ukraine, but also to the entire Western world.
>
> The Annotation also stresses that the State has a wide margin of discretion in choosing what to do to protect national security
>
> measures to be taken. In choosing such measures, respect must be had for the human rights guaranteed both by the Constitution and by international treaties.
>
> “Latvia, as a border state of the aggressor – Russia – with a relatively large number of Russian citizens, currently has a considerably wider margin of discretion to take measures to protect national security, including by restricting human rights,” the annotation reads.
>
> Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Okay guys, now this is epic
“To protect national security, including by restricting human rights”. State overregulation again, f**king shame.
We don’t allow Nazi celebrations. We won’t allow Soviet celebrations either.
I can’t wait for some vatniks to break this law and then play the victim when police shows up to arrest them
Hitler party in Jerusalem, 2023, what’s wrong with that
In Latvia, Stalin made Hitlers plans a reality.
9th of May is a very Russian thing to have on your calendar, but I remember we didn’t really attend any public gatherings (well, we passed by one in our town and) and went to a restaurant, which was super rare. I’m confused as to how this celebrates Soviet anything? I thought it was about the end of WWII?
>signing of the German Instrument of Surrender late in the evening on 8 May 1945 (9 May Moscow Time).[a]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Day_(9_May)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_Day_(9_May))
Can someone ELI5 how this glorifies any one regime (edit: or warfare as opposed to the end of war and start of peace)? I do admit to being in a bit of a bubble regarding this.
—————
edit: got a good ELI5 from u/FatherlyNick
[https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/12tuhrq/comment/jh4qmvj](https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/12tuhrq/comment/jh4qmvj)
>RU propaganda started spinning the day as a “We defeated nazis and now we can defeat the West!” and generally glorifying Russian imperialism. It got out of control and instead of remembering the veterans it now used to perpetuate a message of hate towards western countries. Same with the soviet monuments, the vatniks started using it as symbol to support the invasion of Ukraine.
In short – they did this. If they kept this as a celebration of end of war and remembering all of those who did not live to see the day, no one would have a problem with that message or at least, they would see wider resistance if they tried to ban such a celebration.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Start using end of war reflection day as a propaganda tool to push your message of aggression towards Europe, receive a ban on such ‘celebrations’.
Are 8 May celebrations allowed?
Whilst Russia’s actions in Ukraine are completely wrong and views of society are completely justified, the actions to erase “Russianism” from our daily lives is like pretending the events of past never existed. We talk about the world wars and terrible actions of previous leaders, but seem to be erasing the existence of Russia.
No Europe day for Latvia?
Good.
Respect guys!
Does this effect celebrating the end of the war?
Latvia is on a roll. Great to see them getting on top of those who sympathise with Russia, and resisting Kremlin threats and propaganda. There should be no more room in Latvia for supporters of the USSR than there is for supporters of Nazi Germany.
WTF! How?! WHY?! This is some bullshit! How is the EU allowing this?!!!
inb4 “Latvians are nazis”
Respect guys.