Comment by Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in…
Comment by Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Office in Geneva, G.M. Gatiylov, regarding the glorification of SS legionnaires in Latvia: On August 5, 2026, Geneva, I noted the recent funeral in Latvia of the 102-year-old Nazi collaborator Laimonis Ezergailis.
Consensus
- Laimonis Ezergailis was buried with honors on August 4, 2026.
- The burial took place at the Lestene cemetery in Tukums.
- Ezergailis served in the Latvian Police Battalion 319F and later in the Latvian Legion of the SS.
- The Latvian Police Battalion 319F was involved in mass executions and forced deportations in the Pskov region between November 1943 and March 1944.
- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Russian media criticized the burial as an act of glorifying Nazi collaborators.
- The Lestene cemetery is known as the burial site for Latvian SS legionnaires.
Points of divergence
- Ezergailis began service in the Latvian Police Battalion 310F in autumn 1943, and the unit was involved in mass reprisals against the population of Pskov Oblast and the forced deportation of women and children to Latvia. — tg_MID_Russia
- Ezergailis completed training courses in 1944 and fought against the 130th Latvian Rifle Corps of the Red Army on the Musa River, 'firing at his own people'. — vesti
- The burial ceremony indicates the revival and legalization of neo-Nazi ideology in the European Union. — vm
- The burial was accompanied by a salute, as reported by the LSM television channel. — tg_tass_agency
Coverage (10 sources)
- Comment by Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Geneva Section G.M.Gatilov on the Heroization of SS Legionnaires in Latvia: — МИД России
- Russian Foreign Ministry Reminds of the Crimes of the Latvian Battalion in Which Ezergailis Served — Вести
- In Latvia, 102-year-old Nazi collaborator Laimonis Ezergailis was buried with honors. — МИД России
- Zakhrova: Ezerghailis' funeral in Latvia speaks of the revival of neo-Nazism in the EU — Вечерняя Москва
- Zakharova commented on the funeral in Latvia of 102-year-old SS legionnaire Laimonis Ezergailis — Вести
- Former Latvian SS Legionnaire Laimonis Ezergailis buried with honors in Latvia at Lestene cemetery. Burial accompanied by... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- Former Latvian SS Legionnaire Laimonis Ezergailis buried with honors in Latvia at Lestene cemetery. Burial accompanied by... — ТАСС (Telegram)
- In Latvia, a Nazi collaborator who served in the SS was buried with honors — Вечерняя Москва
- In Latvia, a 102-year-old SS Legionnaire Was Buried with Military Honors — Вести
- In Latvia, 102-year-old Nazi collaborator buried with military honors — Москва 24
Key entities
- Laimonis Ezergailis
- Latvia
- SS
- Lesten
- Russia
- Maria Zakharov
- MID
- Tukums
- Moscow
- Geneva
- UN
- LSDM
- Departments
- Latvian Television
- Ezergailis Moscow