In order to preserve, maintain and develop the memorial site of the World War II in Lestene, the Saeima adopted in the third reading a new law on Thursday, 6 June. The aim of the law is to identify and remember historical events, strengthen the historical memory of the society and promote a fact-based understanding of the events in the occupied territory of Latvia in the vicinity of Lestene during the Second World War, during which the occupying countries - the Soviet Union and Germany - illegally involved the inhabitants of Latvia in their military formations.
According to the explanatory note to the draft law, in Kurzeme region, more than a million soldiers fought at the end of World War II. These were the largest and bloodiest battles in the history of Latvia, and Lestene was at the centre of these battles, when the occupying countries for the first time sent Latvian units against each other – brother against brother, with great loss of Latvian life. Lestene Church which holds a unique cultural and historical significance was a witness and victim of these events. The memorial site created next to the Lestene Lutheran Church tells about the tragic events during the World War II and preserves the memory of fallen Latvian soldiers and national partisans.
“The consequences of the occupation of Latvia are still present in the consciousness of people today, and our task is to identify, remember historical events and promote public understanding of these events that took place during the World War II in the vicinity of Lestene. Our task is to ensure restoration of historical justice and to prevent false, inaccurate reflection of historical events, and to pay tribute to the memory of those Latvian soldiers who were involved in and fell during World War II, and that is precisely the purpose and task of this law – to respect, honour and convey to future generations the tragic fate of our people so that such tragedies never happen again,” says Agita Zariņa-Stūre, Chair of the Education, Culture and Science Committee responsible for the progress of the draft law in the Saeima.
The Lestene Lutheran Church, the World War II memorial site, and the Lestene Memorial are part of Latvia's cultural and historical heritage, which is included in the list of state protected cultural monuments.
The new law lays down the procedure for the maintenance and management of the memorial site. The procedure for financing the conservation, restoration, development and maintenance of the area has also been established. Among other things, the state will be able to participate in the financing of the implementation of the long-term concept of conservation, restoration, development and use of the memorial site, if the state budget provides funds for this.
Saeima Press Service