Latvia’s economic losses due to Soviet occupation estimated at 300 billion

DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE SOVIET UNION IN THE BALTIC STATES

LETA:

September 12, 2014

The economic losses Latvia suffered as a result of the Soviet occupation may significantly exceed EUR 300 billion, as presented by member of the Committee for Calculation of Losses Caused by USSR Occupation Ruta Pazdere to Latvian Cabinet of Ministers this Friday, September 12th.

The length of continued work of this commission will depend on the available funding. Current estimates suggest five years, says Pazdere. The government has allocated EUR 35,000 for the commission this year. Next year’s funding is estimated at EUR 50,000. Funding for the work of the commission will go entirely on legal preparation of justifications, creation of databases and other important resources, says member of the commission Doctor of History Edvīns Šnore. Members of the commission are not paid a wage for their work.

Pazdere has said that Latvian residents lost approximately 10 million years of human lives and that it is necessary to create a method to convert human hours into economic units. Chairman of the commission has noted that it is necessary to also calculate losses caused by illegally forcing people to serve in the Soviet army, which resulted in many people getting injuries and remaining scarred for life. Russia should take responsibility for this as the legal successor of USSR.

When asked that considering how hard it is to receive compensation for the caused damage and whether or not the commission is doing pointless work, Šnore replied by saying that if the criminal does not admit committing the crime, it does not mean people will calm down. Pazdere notes that it is necessary to perform calculations in order for Latvian and international societies to learn the extent of the damage.

When asked if the organization of the meeting of the commission with the Cabinet of Ministers is not related to Šnore’s candidacy in the 12th Saeima election, Pazdere explained that the meeting’s organization of the meeting was coordinated and organized after information regarding funding became known. According to Šnore, the participation in the upcoming elections does not make it difficult to perform duties as Chairman of this commission.

Ref: 102.109.109.9892

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