Through the mediation of local supporters, the Kremlin has launched a new project in the war of monuments against Latvia. In June, the wreckage of a Soviet Pe-2 bomber was discovered in the forests of Nīca in the Kurzeme region, and a campaign has now been launched to glorify this find. Funds are being raised to excavate the aircraft wreckage and potentially display it at a memorial in Liepāja.
The situation that has developed was explained in writing to Neatkarīgā by Dace Gūtmane, head of Forest Management Planning for the company's South Kurzeme region:
“On 10 June, AS Latvijas valsts meži received an application from the search organisation 'Patriots'. It stated that, while carrying out exploration work (such activities were not coordinated with LVM), the remains of a Pe-2 aircraft were found. As there is a possibility of recovering the crew, work should continue, but this time involving an excavator. To carry out the recovery of the aircraft, 5 trees causing an obstruction would also have to be felled. Attached to the 'Patriots' application was an authorisation issued by the Brothers' Cemetery Committee on 26 May to carry out probing and exhumation work in the relevant area.”
Latvijas valsts meži provided an interim response to the organisation's application, which was also sent to the Brothers' Cemetery Committee:
“Upon inspecting the mentioned area, LVM determined that unauthorised activities have already been carried out by unknown persons. Excavation work was carried out in compartment 279, sub-compartments 4 and 8 of the 213th block, resulting in damage to the ground cover and harm to growing trees. Furthermore, the situation poses a danger to forest animals and forest visitors. From the Brothers' Cemetery Committee authorisation No. 1260-26 (valid from 24.05.2021 to 25.11.2021), it is unclear whether the search for and recovery of military hardware is permitted.” It should be explained that the aforementioned Brothers' Cemetery Committee is an association authorised by the Latvian state to identify, restore, maintain, and keep in order the brothers' cemeteries of Latvian soldiers and national partisans who fell and died in the World Wars and the Latvian War of Independence, as well as those of soldiers from other countries. Therefore, this association has the authority to permit or refuse certain activities.
The Brothers' Cemetery Committee remains silent
Given the unclear situation regarding the aircraft found in the Nīca forests, Latvijas valsts meži requested additional information from the Brothers' Cemetery Committee and the search organisation 'Patriots'. Should the performance of said activities not be specified in the exploration work provider's application? Should the authorisation not include information regarding the search for military hardware? Should supplementary conditions not be issued for the performance of such work regarding the use of equipment that cannot be classified as 'light machinery', and concerning material assets uncovered and excavated during the work? So far, only the search organisation 'Patriots' has responded to the letter from Latvijas valsts meži. They claim that only control digging with a shovel was performed at the site to verify that the aircraft, which may contain the mortal remains of the crew, was there. This is not strictly true, as reports circulated by Russia show that the digging was carried out on a much larger scale and that large parts of the aircraft had already been recovered, against the backdrop of which pro-Kremlin activists posed. No response has been received from the Brothers' Cemetery Committee, and therefore Latvijas valsts meži has not issued authorisation to the searchers:
“At present, LVM has not granted any permission, as we are awaiting possible additional information regarding the intended excavation work.”