Ex-Soviet countries donate to memorial

Ottawa to honour victims of communism

The governments of two countries formerly in the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union are donating money to help fund Ottawa’s controversial Memorial to the Victims of Communism, citing enthusiasm for the project among their diaspora.

Last week, the Czech Republic quietly decided it would give 400,000 Czech crowns (about $20,000) to Tribute to Liberty, the charity seeking to have the monument built. This follows a $14,000 donation from Latvia.

“We are still working about the technicality, where and how we will transfer ... there is nothing political,” said Robert Tripes, minister consular at the Czech embassy in Ottawa.

He said many in the Czech and Slovak diaspora — he estimated there are 100,000 people of Czech or Slovak descent in Canada — have raised “a considerable amount” of money and supported the project, which would see a memorial built near the Supreme Court of Canada.

“It is also a reflection of the generosity of our compatriots ... it was just logical that the Czech government act accordingly,” he said.

The Latvian embassy in Ottawa said its diaspora was “one of the first” to donate to the memorial.

“This also encouraged the Latvian government to donate,” Juris Audarins, the ambassador, said in an email.

“It is hard to find any one family of Latvian descent who has not been affected by the ensuing totalitarianism.”