A demonstration by Waffen-SS veterans, which...
A total of 1,000 Latvian legionnaires and their supporters marched on Tuesday along a central Riga street towards the Freedom Monument, carrying national flags under escort by special police forces.
The demonstration took place after a local court cancelled the decision by the Riga parliament, which banned the march following advice given by law enforcement agencies.
Mikhail Margelov, the chairman of the international affairs committee in Russia"s upper house of parliament, condemned the demonstration.
"This year, the whole civilized humanity will celebrate the 65th anniversary of victory over those for whom they marched today along the streets of Riga, and this march is nothing else but a challenge for the whole of humanity," Margelov said.
The Latvian Anti-fascist Committee chairman, Eduard Goncharov, said three committee activists were detained during a meeting held near the Freedom Monument in protest against the Waffen-SS demonstration.