Latvia Topples Soviet Era Obelisk Amid Backlash Against Russia Latvia
Heavy machinery was spotted behind a green privacy fence at the foot of the nearly 80-meter (260-foot) obelisk shortly before it was cut down. The pillar, which stood like a high-rise in the center of Riga, fell into a nearby lake, causing a huge noise in Victory Park. A Latvian media outlet broadcast the event live as spectators, some with Latvian flags draped over their shoulders, cheered and clapped. The obelisk, consisting of five cones with three Soviet stars on top, stood between two groups of statues: a group of three Red Army soldiers; and a woman representing the “Mother Country” with her hands up....