RIGA, Aug 17 (LETA) - Daugavpils city council's activities look like sabotage of dismantling of the monuments glorifying the Soviet occupation and defending the occupation "heroes", said Environment Protection and Regional Development Minister Arturs Toms Pless (For Development/For).

Pless said that by November 15, Daugavpils has to comply with the legislative requirements and dismantle both monument glorifying the Soviet occupation that have been included in the list approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.

The minister said that the Daugavpils city council's move to turn to the Constitutional Court, appealing the law banning display of objects glorifying Soviet and Nazi regimes and requiring their removal, is not a reason not to comply with the law. Therefore, the ministry expects Daugavpils to dismantle these monuments in the set time frame.

As reported, a law banning display of objects glorifying Soviet and Nazi regimes and requiring their removal came into effect in Latvia on June 23 after the Saeima passed it on June 16. According to the law, all objects glorifying totalitarian regimes in Latvia's territory have to be removed by November 15.

In total, 69 monument have been identified to fall in this category, including two of them in Daugavpils.