Is it true that in Latvia they were forbidden to sing Katyusha?

In September 2022, Russian media reported that the inhabitants of Latvia from now on should not be performed by one of the most famous Soviet songs. We checked the reliability of such messages.

September 15 in the morning release of news on Channel One appeared The plot of an unusual ban, allegedly established by Latvian law. “The legendary“ Katyusha ”, a song that several generations love in our country and abroad love, should not sound even on family feasts on the territory of Latvia. This was stated in the police of Riga with the words, they say, Katyusha glorifies the totalitarian regime. This was said in response to the appeal of a group of Russian -speaking pensioners. They asked to explain what exactly in Latvia is banned. The question, given the Russophobic course of the authorities, is more than relevant, ”the presenter said. Also about such a ban and a “major fine” for its violation were told ”Moscow Komsomolets" And "Komsomolskaya Truth" - However, these media claimed that the ban applies only to the performance of a song in public places. Some publications (for example, "Svtv" And Eurasia Daily) specified the source of this information - the Latvian media Baltijas Balss.

A note called “Is it possible in the kitchen in Riga to quietly sing Soviet songs - police comment” I went out On the Russian -language version of the Baltijas Balss site September 14. Journalists gave the police a question from a “group of pensioners”, he completely sounded like this: “It approaches October 13 - the day of the liberation of Riga from the Nazis. We, a group of pensioners, always celebrated this day - gathered at the table, sang, talked. And this year, in the light of all changes and tightening, we already doubt whether the day of the liberation of Riga from the Nazis was announced to the Day of the Law? Some of our group have Russian citizenship - accordingly, they are afraid of deportation, and others do not want to get into the Black Lists. Tell me through the portal, please, is it possible to celebrate such holidays as on October 13, May 9, or for this, some penalties are provided in your circle? ”

Baltijas Balss requested a comment from the Latvian police. Tom Sadovskis answered reporters that “the law provides for a ban on the use of totalitarian regimes in public places. In particular, the ban on, for example, the anthem of the USSR or other songs glorifying the totalitarian regime, such as Katyusha, etc., fall under the ban.

The publication in the same note brought quotes from the Latvian law on administrative punishments for offenses in the field of management, public order and the use of the state language, in which neither Katyusha nor other Soviet military songs are mentioned. Article 13 of this document prohibits "Demonstrate" in public places:

• flags, coats of arms and hymns of the USSR and Soviet republics;
• flag, coat of arms and anthem of Nazi Germany;
• uniforms of the armed forces and the law enforcement agencies of the USSR and Hitler Germany, as well as homemade copies and even individual elements of such uniforms;
• sickle and hammer, as well as a five -pointed star;
• Swastika, as well as signs of the SS.

There are no cases when the demonstration of the above symbols “is not related to the glorification of totalitarian regimes or the justification of committed criminal offenses”, as well as their use “for educational, scientific or artistic purposes”. Otherwise, the court may sentenced the offender to a warning or fine of up to € 350 (for a legal entity - up to € 2900).

Article 13.1 of the same law (it entered into force in May of this year) prohibits "the use of symbols in the public place that glorifying military aggression and war crimes." This measure also implies exceptions - "Cases when there is no end of the justification or glorification of these crimes." Punishment under this article identifically specified in Article 13.

The fact that the representative of the Riga municipal police gave as an example the song “glorifying the totalitarian regime” caused bewilderment among Baltijas Balss journalists. Their note ends with the section “from the editorial office”, where there is, in particular, such thoughts: “If you apply a punishment, which implies a solid fine, for the performance of a song glorifying totalitarianism in a public place, then, according to logic, you need to know exactly that this song is really totalitarianism and is its (totalitarianism) symbol. Okay, with songs about Lenin, Stalin and the anthem of the former USSR, everything is clear. But where is the guarantee that the punished for Katyusha will not sue and will not prove that this is not about totalitarianism, but about love? And the "solar circle" - for the world all over the world? What our courts will turn into, who do not complain about the lack of work if they have to figure out whether pensioners sang in a public place “Cranes”, “Dark Night”, “Night evenings”, etc. In order to glorify totalitarianism, or just in this way remembered their youth? ”

In other words, there is no list of “prohibited” songs in Latvian legislation - the punishment is directly written only for the execution of Soviet and Nazi official hymns. At the same time, the police representative really mentioned in his commentary “Katyusha” as an example of “a song glorifying a totalitarian regime”. It is not quite obvious whether this is his personal opinion or not a legally recorded informal position of the Latvian state.

We asked our colleagues from the Delfi Latvian portal to check with Tom Sadovskis, what he had in mind, giving a comment to Baltijas Balss. “Each case is considered individually. Of course, not every performance of the song is automatically qualified as the glorification of totalitarian regimes, a set of measures is evaluated, ”the author of the resonant statement from the Riga municipal police said.

Delfi also requested a comment from the State Police of Latvia. The spokesman for the Riga regional department, the Gita Gybibovsk, answered our colleagues that "the performance of the song in itself is not a violation, but it is necessary to take into account the circumstances in which it is fulfilled." “Each case should be evaluated individually. Circumstances and motivation are essential. If a person performs a song, thus glorifying totalitarian regimes, this is an offense, ”Gzhibovsk explained.

Thus, contrary to the statements of the Channel One, at private events in Latvia, you can perform Katyusha and other Soviet military songs. As for public places, Soviet musical compositions are not listed directly in the law that cannot sound on the streets of Riga and other cities. The execution of Katyusha and other songs will be considered an offense only if its goal serves to “glorify the totalitarian regime” - the police emphasize that not so much the singing itself as a person’s motivation and circumstances will play in such a situation.

We thank journalists of the Russian -speaking version of the Delfi.lv portal for help in preparing this analysis

Photo on the cover: Loraine / Wikimedia Commons

Half truth

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