- Title: LATVIA: War camp memorial becomes 'red light' hot spot for Riga prostitutes
- Date: 2nd September 2008
- Summary: VARIOUS OF PROSTITUTES WALKING ALONG THE ROAD TO MEMORIAL SIGN READING: 'SALASPILS MEMORIAL' (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PROSTITUTE, NATASHA, SAYING: "Salaspils region council allowed us. In fact this place is in the territory of Salaspils police department, but they do not step in. But the policemen from Riga patrol here." (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) PROSTITUTE, JULYA, SAYING: "They have nothing to do with us, but they write protocols" PROSTITUTES STANDING AT THE ROADSIDE PROSTITUTES TALKING TO DRIVER CAR LEAVING
- Embargoed: 17th September 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Latvia
- Country: Latvia
- Topics: Social Services / Welfare
- Reuters ID: LVA29Q9QEOQQ7TBW6BSI405G7D0K
- Story Text: Latvia's Salaspils memorial, a tribute to the victims of totalitarian regimes, has become a 'red light' hot spot for Riga's prostitutes.
Just 18 kilometres southeast of Latvia's capital Riga, the gates to the 'Salaspils' memorial greet their visitors with the words, 'The soil moans beyond this gate'.
Established as a prison camp by the nazis during World War 2, Salaspils was turned into a memorial during the Soviet era in memory of those who died there.
Today the memorial has become a busy pick-up point for Riga's prostitutes, and neither Riga nor Salaspils councils have the means to prevent it.
There is some dispute over the number of deaths at the camp, ranging from 1,000 to 100,000, but the memorial remains a powerful tribute to those who died under totalitarian regimes.
The sculptures, in the style of 1960s Soviet realism, are imposing stone figures and were a focal point for ceremonies during the Soviet era.
For the prostitutes, the forest around the memorial provides an ideal location for business.
"Well, everybody knows this place and everybody gets used to it.
We do not stand near the actual memorial. We do not drive there [with the clients]. We do it closer. Or we drive in the other direction. We do not go to the memorial. It is not necessary," said prostitute Natasha.
For the people visiting the memorial and Salaspils city council, the condoms that litter the forest floor and the sight of the women standing at the forest's edge are unwelcome.
Lolita Truksane, Salaspils' public relations specialist, says that the council has tried to relocate the prostitutes but without any success.
"Salaspils Region council allocated two places for them in the region's territory. These places were at the outskirts of the region and not at the turn towards the memorial. The place for them was indicated 200 m farther in the direction of Riga direction in order to remove them from the turning to the memorial," Truksane said.
A law was passed at the beginning of 2008 allowing prostitutes to offer and render services in their own premises but has yet to be implemented.
And the prostitutes have no real incentive to move on. The area is a convenient turn-off for drivers on their way to the capital and although the Riga police department has stepped in they lack the resources to make a real difference.
"Salaspils region council allowed us. In fact this place is in the territory of Salaspils police department, but they do not step in. But the policemen from Riga patrol here," Natasha said.
"They have nothing to do with us, but they write protocols,"
said another prostitute Julya.
According to Andris Lapins, deputy head of the Riga criminal police, the force knows about the Salaspils pick-up point but must prioritise its resources.
"About the memorial - we could not say that attention is really being paid. The police within their capacity work every where that the prostitutes gather. But it needs to be understood - the police resources are limited and there are always more important thing to do - more severe crimes, murders to work out that come first and foremost," he said.
For the short term at least, Riga's prostitutes are as much a part of Salaspils memorial as the stone sculptures. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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