Starting Saturday 8:00 to Sunday 23:59, stopping or standing will be prohibited (except for first responders and diplomat vehicles):
- on both sides of Bāriņu Street's section between Uzvaras Boulevard and E. Smiļģa Street;
- both sides on Uzvaras Boulevard between Bāriņu Street and O. Vācieša Street;
- both sides of O. Vācieša Street between Uzvaras Boulevard and Hermaņa Street.
On May 9, between 8:00 and midnight, vehicle traffic (except for first responders, diplomat vehicles and public transport) will be suspended:
- on Uzvaras Boulevard between O. Vācieša and Bāriņu Street;
- on O. Vācieša Street between Hermaņa Street and Uzvaras Boulevard;
- on O. Vācieša Street parallel to Uzvaras Boulevard.
Between 9:00 and midnight on May 9, public transport will not stop at the Slokas iela and Uzvaras bulvāris stops.
May 9 remains a divisive date in Latvia. While many ethnic Russians, who make up around a quarter of the population, see it as a day of commemoration and celebration, most ethnic Latvians have a different view, seeing it as the start of a second, harsh 50-year Soviet occupation.
The official Latvian day for commemoration of victory over the Third Reich is May 8, with May 9 designated Europe Day.
Caught between Russia and Germany, more than 100,000 Latvian citizens fought on opposite sides during the Second World War.
The Rīga event is not a public holiday in Latvia and has no official status, though police and other bodies concerned with public safety are forced to organize a large monitoring operation each year to regulate traffic and maintain order. Smaller events also take place in some other Latvian cities.
As reported earlier by LSM, pedestrian traffic in Uzvaras park will be monitored and controlled by police on May 9.
