Russia, Israel denounce Latvian SS march

• Tweet

RIGA, Latvia, March 17 (UPI) -- The Latvian government came under fire from Russian and Israeli officials Thursday for allowing a march by Nazi SS veterans and supporters in Riga.

In a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding Wednesday's march, the Latvian government's consent to the march was described as "immoral and inadmissible," the Itar-Tass news agency said.

"It is particularly cynical that such actions are being held with the consent of the Latvian authorities ... on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the VE-Day, to find support in the European capitals for Riga's policy of revising the World War II outcomes," the statement said.

In Tel Aviv, Dr. Efraim Zuroff, director of the Israeli branch of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, also condemned the Latvian government's attitude, the Novosti news agency said.

"It is becoming increasingly obvious that some segments of Latvian society still regard those who exterminated Jews or simply fought on the side of Nazis as heroes, while these people do not deserve any praise," Zuroff said.