"Taking into account the Russian Foreign Ministry's unacceptable antisemitic statements and the Russian embassy's communication on social media, the Foreign Ministry has summoned the Russian ambassador to Latvia M. Vanin on May 5 to receive explanations and express protest," Rinkēvičs wrote.
Ņemot vērā Krievijas Ārlietu ministrijas nepieņemamos antisemītiskos paziņojumus un Krievijas vēstniecības komunikāciju sociālajos tīklos, Ārlietu ministrija 5.maijā ir izsaukusi Krievijas vēstnieku Latvijā M. Vaņinu paskaidrojumu sniegšanai un protesta izteikšanai
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) May 3, 2022
On May 3, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement 'On Antisemitism'. Among other false accusations, mostly referring to 'neo-Nazism in Ukraine' and to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's claim that Adolf Hitler was part Jewish – thus suggesting Jews themselves played a role in perpetrating the Holocaust – it mentions the 'restoration of Waffen SS' in Latvia.
"A President's Jewish descent is not a guarantee that prevents neo-Nazism from running wild in the country. By the way, Ukraine is not the only country like that. Latvian President E. Levits also has Jewish roots. And he 'successfully' covers up the restoration of Waffen SS in his country," the statement says.
A diplomat was also summoned the short distance from the Russian Embassy to the Latvian Foreign Ministry in the immediate aftermath of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, as previously reported by LSM.