Museum director Solvita Viba said she believes it was a deliberate attack. She added that the facility is functioning normally and welcoming visitors, as the fire was quickly put out. Prime Minister Evika Silina announced that services will monitor the situation.

“In the current geopolitical conditions, we must take special care of both our border and the safety of our residents,” she stressed.

In turn, President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed the hope that once the culprits are discovered, the justice system will react appropriately and “severely punish the perpetrators of such provocations.”

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia has been operating in Riga for more than thirty years. It commemorates the half-century-long Soviet occupation of the country, as well as the German occupation during World War II.

Russian provocations

Provocations by Russia are all the more likely given Latvia’s unequivocal response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and steps taken by the Latvian parliament to combat Russian influence. Among other things, in the fall, the Latvian parliament decided that owners of cars with Russian plates must either re-register the vehicle by February 14 or remove the car fromLatvia. Failure to do so will allow for the possibility of confiscation of the vehicle. A financial penalty may also be imposed on the driver.

Interior Ministry chief Rihards Kozlovskis announced that police officers will not conduct manhunts for cars with Russian plates, but are expected to respond when they see this kind of vehicle on the street or receive a report about it. Vehicles registered in Russia are allowed to participate in Latvian traffic for the purpose of transit.