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It is a reaction to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine: the authorities in Riga had the so-called "victors' monument" torn down.
It has stood in the Latvian capital since 1985 and consisted of several soldier sculptures and the 79 meter high obelisk, with a Soviet star on top.
Janis Lange, Mayor of Riga:
»Of course it is a question of values.
For Latvians, this monument represents the occupation after World War II.
And after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we can no longer tolerate that.
And that is why our Parliament has decided that this monument must be demolished by the end of November.«
More precisely: until November 15th.
By then, all relics from the Soviet era should have disappeared from Latvia.
That's what Parliament decided.
The biggest thing is already done.
And indeed, even before Putin's war, there had been repeated arguments about the monument.
For the Russian minority, who make up about 30 percent of Latvia's population, the monument represented the success of the Soviet Union over Hitler's Nazi Germany.
The memorial was always a gathering point on Victory Day, May 9th.
This year, when the war had already been going on for more than two months, things looked different at the memorial: Ukrainian and Latvian flags were waving, and the exhibition »Glory of Ukraine« was on display.
Before the demolition, the Russian minority protested for days against the removal of the monument.
However, most Latvians consider May 9, 1945 to be the beginning of nearly 50 years of Soviet occupation.
The Baltic state only became independent in 1991.
And so the opinions about the demolition differed greatly.
Dmitry Prokopenko, supporter of the monument:
»Of course I'm sad, because all my grandparents and my great-grandfather were soldiers in World War II, they fought against the Nazis for freedom.
My great-grandfather was killed in Lithuania in 1944.
So for me it is also a monument of glory for what we have done, for their fight.«
Artos, opponent of the monument:
»I am here to see how this scar left by the Soviet Union finally falls.
This is an important day for Latvia.
We are finally getting rid of our past and looking ahead.
Hopefully this place will leave its past behind and return to what it used to be.
Instead of Soviet success, it will now stand for the success of our people.«
Sigita, supporter of the monument:
»In my opinion it is wrong and very bad to touch places in memory of soldiers.
Many soldiers died between 1941 and 1945 so that we could live under a peaceful sky.
80 million people died during World War II and now their monuments are being torn down.
Here, in Poland, Lithuania, in many places.
It is wrong.
Not correct."
According to a 1994 treaty between Latvia and Russia, the monument was actually under protection.
In May, however, the Latvian parliament voted to amend this agreement, thereby stripping the monument of its protected status.
That's why the pillar was allowed to fall.