Latvia reopens criminal investigation into “Butcher of Riga” following widespread condemnation

Researchers from the United States were invited to Liepaja, equipped with modern technology that enabled them to locate the mass burial site from 82 years ago.

Latvia’s highest public authorities attended a commemorative ceremony in Riga, organized by the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia, marking the country’s Holocaust memorial day.

“The Plan for the Reduction of Racism and Antisemitism 2023” approved by the Latvian Cabinet of Ministers has endorsed the application of the working definition of antisemitism of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA). 

30 November marked the 81st anniversary of the biggest mass murder of civilians in the history of Latvia. A Latvian civic initiative commemorated the tragic events by laying candles at the foot of the Freedom Monument in Rīga.  

The exhibition “Life in the town of Vishki” is open in the Naujene Local History Museum of the Augšdaugava Municipality. At the same time, the exhibition “The Lost World of the Litvaks in the Drawings of Gerardas Bagdonavičius (1901-1986)” has been inaugurated at the Bauska Museum.

Cēsis hosted an audiovisual performance called “Silence Falls,” which was attended by residents as well as visitors from other cities, including members of the Riga Jewish Community.

One of the darkest days in Latvian history is commemorated on July 4: Jewish genocide memorial day. The day was marked by numerous remembrance events, including at the site of the former Great Choral Synagogue in Rīga

The Jewish community of Latvia is actively helping refugees from Ukraine. Elderly members of Jewish families who arrived in Riga have been registered and received assistance at the Hesed Social Center. Children became students at the Dubnov Jewish School and may attend the Motek Community Kindergarten. At the request of the Jewish community of Moldova, […]

Latvia’s parliament passed a Holocaust restitution bill that includes compensation for lost Jewish property and funding to revitalize the Baltic nation’s Jewish community, which was almost completely wiped out during World War II.

A commemorative event was held at the Rumbula forest with officials, diplomats, and members of the Latvian Jewish community to mark the 80th anniversary of the biggest mass murder of civilians in the history of Latvia.

The Saeima, Latvia’s parliament, declared support in principle for a bill resolving to compensate the Jewish community for property lost during the Holocaust.

State President Egils Levits attended a remembrance event at the site of the former Rīga Great Choral Synagogue, which was burned to the ground with people inside it in one of the most horrific episodes of the WWII in Latvia.