RIGA, July 21 (LETA) - The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development has instructed local governments to timely draw up action plans for the removal of memorial sites glorifying Soviet or Nazi regimes.

Miks Strazdins, an adviser to Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Arturs Toms Pless (Development/For), told LETA that the Cabinet of Ministers has approved a list of 69 memorial objects, including monuments, memorial signs and sites to be dismantled in the municipalities of Dienvidkurzeme, Kuldiga, Jelgava, Talsi, Bauska, Ogre, Ludza, Kraslava, Marupe, Saldus, Aluksne, Gulbene, Smiltene, Tukums, Valmiera, Balvi, Augsdaugava and Madona, as weel as in Liepaja, Riga, Rezekne and Daugavpils. 

Pless urged local authorities also in other municipalities where memorial sites dedicated to the former occupation powers are found to take necessary decisions and measures to ensure compliance with the law requiring removal of such objects. 

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.