After the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine, the transfer of the remains of Soviet soldiers found in Latvia to Russia has effectively stopped. In two years, the Russian side has not sent a single official request for reburial, and the number of unexported remains has already reached approximately 2000.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia reported that it has not received any official requests from Russia regarding the reburial of the remains of Soviet soldiers in the past two years.
The ministry explained that such matters are regulated by an agreement between Latvia and Russia from 2007 concerning the status of military burials.
According to the current procedure, the Ministry of Defense coordinates the implementation of the agreement, while the practical work is carried out by the organization "Committee of Fraternal Cemeteries."
In this system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for diplomatic contacts with the Russian side.
However, after the start of the full-scale war by Russia against Ukraine, this mechanism has effectively ceased to function.
According to TV3, Latvia currently holds about 2000 remains of soldiers from the Soviet army, found during search operations (read more here).
What to do with them next remains unclear.
Previously, the process was quite formalized.
After the discovery of remains, a procedure for identification, approvals, and subsequent reburial was initiated—either in Latvia or in Russia.
Now this process has come to a halt.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that cooperation with the Russian side has not always been straightforward.
According to the ministry, Moscow often delayed the approval of reburials or did not respond in a timely manner at all.
After 2022, the situation has practically frozen completely.
Talis Ešmits, head of the "Leģenda" society, stated that in some cases it was possible to establish the identities of the deceased, and relatives in Russia even expressed a desire to return the remains home.
The Latvian side prepared the documents and gave consent, but the Russian side ceased to respond.
Against this backdrop, the contrast with other countries is particularly noticeable.
According to search teams, the remains of soldiers from other states continue to be reburied in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
In the same room where the remains of Soviet soldiers are currently stored in bags, there are also small coffins with the remains of German servicemen, prepared for official reburial.
History shows how even issues of memory regarding those who died in World War II gradually become part of the current political conflict between Russia and Europe.
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