Latvia Honors WWII SS Veteran, Russia Condemns
102-year-old former member of the Latvian Legion of the SS, Laimonis Ezerģilis, was buried with military honors in Latvia on August 4, 2026, sparking condemnation from Russian officials who accused Latvia of glorifying Nazi collaborators and promoting neo-Nazism.
Consensus
- Laimonis Ezerģilis was buried with military honors in Latvia on August 5, 2026.
- The burial took place at the Lestene cemetery in the Tukums region.
- Ezerģilis served in the Latvian SS Legion during World War II.
- Russian officials condemned the burial as glorification of Nazi collaborators.
- Ezerģilis was 102 years old at the time of his death.
- The Lestene cemetery is also known as the burial site for Latvian SS legionnaires.
- Russian sources cite Ezerģilis's service in the 319F police battalion and its involvement in atrocities in Pskov Oblast between November 1943 and March 1944.
- The 319F battalion was involved in mass executions and forced deportation of women and children to Latvia.
- Some of the deported were sent to the Salaspils concentration camp, others used as forced labor.
- Russia has repeatedly introduced a UN resolution against the glorification of Nazism.
- Russia views the burial as evidence of neo-Nazism's resurgence in the EU.
Points of divergence
- Ezerģilis began service in the 319F Police Battalion in autumn 1943, and the unit was used by Nazis for mass reprisals in the Sebezh area of Pskov Oblast. — tg_MID_Russia
- Ezerģilis 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
- Zakhara stated that Ezerģilis is responsible for genocide of the Soviet people, including Russians and Latvians. — vm
- The burial was accompanied by a salute, according to TV channel LSM. — tg_tass_agency
- Ezerģilis was awarded the Order of Three Stars, Latvia's highest state honor, after the collapse of the USSR by former President Andris Berzins. — m24
- Historian Viktor Gushchin was sentenced by Latvian authorities on a fabricated charge for defending historical truth and Russian compatriots. — tg_MID_Russia
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