Patriot's Shock: Moscow Street Still Exists! And Lermontov with Cosmonauts (All - Military)

In some places in Latvia, particularly in Rezekne, there are still streets whose names remind of the aggressor country. Some residents of the city of Rezekne and representatives of the organization “Center for Public Memory” express their bewilderment, reports the Bez Tabu program.

Resident Sandra writes to the editorial office: “Riga has been cleared of names associated with the occupying country, but our Rezekne still needs to be cleared. I invite you to stroll through our streets — perhaps one day we will have a celebration too!”

In the city, there are still streets such as Andrei Upita Street (chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Latvian SSR), Mikhail Lermontov Street (Russian poet and officer of the Russian Empire), Cosmonauts Street, celebrating the Soviet space programs, and Moscow Street, named after the capital of Russia.

The organization “Center for Public Memory” has appealed to the Rezekne municipality demanding the renaming of these streets, as other municipalities have already done. The organization proposed the following new names: Andrei Upita Street — to Vladislavs Rubulis Street, Lermontov Street — to Janis Klidzey Street, Cosmonauts Street — to Zigfrīds Anna Meierovics Street, and Moscow Street — to Janis Čakste Street.

Last year, the Rezekne municipality conducted a survey among residents regarding the renaming of “Russia-friendly” streets. Out of 1120 participants, 1016 people (90%) opposed. The “Center for Public Memory” criticized this survey, stating that, for example, the name “Moscow Street” is illegal.

I don’t want to walk on Moscow Street!

Board member of the organization Didzis Shenbergs stated: “Without a doubt, Moscow Street, created in Rezekne during the time of Soviet occupation, glorifies Russia as an aggressor and the USSR as a totalitarian regime in public space. The glorification of a communist totalitarian regime in the public sphere is prohibited by the Constitution. The fact that Moscow Street still exists is scandalous, as every citizen of the Republic of Latvia has a constitutional right not to walk on a street where the glorification of an aggressor regime is allowed. Last year’s survey cannot be considered a real survey — it was an unnecessary, in our opinion, illegal action, in which residents were effectively offered to publicly side with Moscow.”

The survey was conducted by a temporary administration of the Rezekne municipality, appointed after the previous council, led by long-time mayor Alexander Bartashevich, was dissolved for violations in economic activities. After the elections this year, Bartashevich returned to the mayor's chair.