Soviet Union | PLACE

A protestor shouts as he holds aloft a placard bearing pictures of Nazi concentration camps and the slogan which translates as 'Remember whom do you killed!', 'Are You proud of it?' as former veterans of the Latvian Legion, a force that was part of the Nazi German Waffen SS, and their relatives walk to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration on March 16, 2010 in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

This picture taken on March 16, 2010 shows a wreath with an inscription which translates as :'16 of March Latvian legionaries commemoration day' laid by veterans of the Latvian Legion, a force that was part of the Nazi German Waffen SS in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

Veterans of the Latvian Legion, a force that was part of the Nazi German Waffen SS, walk with relatives to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration on March 16, 2010 in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

Veterans of the Latvian Legion, a force that was part of the Nazi German Waffen SS, walk with relatives to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration on March 16, 2010 in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

Veterans of the Latvian Legion, a force that was part of the Nazi German Waffen SS, walk with relatives to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration on March 16, 2010 in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

Police escort Latvian Legion veterans, who fought on Nazi Germany's side in World War II, as they walk with relatives on March 16, 2010 to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

A Latvian Legion veteran (C), who fought on Nazi Germany's side in World War II, walks past demonstrators on March 16, 2010 as he heads to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia. Placards read, from left: 'Jews. This land belongs to Latvians!'; 'The President of Latvia should take part in the March 16 event not in the May 9 event!', 'Jews shut up!'AFP PHOTO / ILMARS ZNOTINS.

A Latvian Legion veteran, who fought on Nazi Germany's side in World War II, walks on March 16, 2010 to the Monument of Freedom as part of an annual commemoration in Riga. Moscow and some in Latvia's ethnic-Russian community see the parade as glorifying Nazism because the Legion was commanded by war-time Germany's elite Waffen SS. Veterans insist they were not Nazis themselves but simply took sides to defend their Baltic nation of 2.2 million. The Soviet Union had seized Latvia in 1940 under a pact with the Nazis, and deported 15,000 people to Siberia.

Gymnast Maxim Devyatovsky, of Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Soviet Union acknowledges the crowd after competing in the rings during the Tyson Cup Gymnastics competition in Worcester, Mass., Saturday, March 6, 2010.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev tests a drum of the Young Pioneers, which used to be the Communist league for preteens in the Soviet Union, displayed in a local history museum of the comprehensive school number 66 in Adler district of the Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, Saturday, March 6, 2010. Medvedev visited the school on Saturday.

FILE- In this Thursday June 22, 2006, file photo President of Russian Olympic Committee, Leonid Tyagachev, seen during the first round of the selection process for the Host City of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games at the head office of the IOC in Lausanne, Switzerland. Russia's dismal showing at the Vancouver Games has sparked a wave of public anger, soul-searching and Soviet nostalgia that has reached far beyond the country's sporting world, forcing Russians to wonder what has gone wrong since the Soviet Union did whatever it takes to reap Olympic gold. The cull reached to the top of the sporting world Thursday, March 4, 2010, as Tyagachev handed in his resignation.

FILE - In this March 1, 2010 file photo, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speaks during a meeting at the Gorki presidential residence outside Moscow. A wave of public anger, soul-searching and Soviet nostalgia swept Russia after its dismal showing at the Vancouver Games, leaving many wondering what has gone wrong since the Soviet Union did whatever it took to reap Olympic gold. Medvedev quickly brought Soviet-style methods back to bear this week by initiating a purge of sporting officials and demanding assurances that the debacle will not be repeated when Russia hosts the Winter Games in Sochi in 2014.

FILE- In this Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, file photo Russia's Alexander Ovechkin and Russia's Andrey Markov react after their team's 7-3 loss to team Canada in men's quarterfinal ice hockey action at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Russia's dismal showing at the Vancouver Games has sparked a wave of public anger, soul-searching and Soviet nostalgia that has reached far beyond the country's sporting world, forcing Russians to wonder what has gone wrong since the Soviet Union did whatever it takes to reap Olympic gold.

FILE- In this Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, file photo Russia's Alexander Ovechkin and Russia's Andrey Markov react after their team's 7-3 loss to team Canada in men's quarterfinal ice hockey action at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Russia's dismal showing at the Vancouver Games has sparked a wave of public anger, soul-searching and Soviet nostalgia that has reached far beyond the country's sporting world, forcing Russians to wonder what has gone wrong since the Soviet Union did whatever it takes to reap Olympic gold.

FILE- In this Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, file photo Russia's Alexander Ovechkin and Russia's Andrey Markov react after their team's 7-3 loss to team Canada in men's quarterfinal ice hockey action at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Russia's dismal showing at the Vancouver Games has sparked a wave of public anger, soul-searching and Soviet nostalgia that has reached far beyond the country's sporting world, forcing Russians to wonder what has gone wrong since the Soviet Union did whatever it takes to reap Olympic gold.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, file photo Canada's Dan Boyle, 22, hugs teammate Ryan Getzlaf after his first period goal against Russia during mens quarterfinal ice hockey action at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. Russia's dismal showing at the Vancouver Games has sparked a wave of public anger, soul-searching and Soviet nostalgia that has reached far beyond the country's sporting world, forcing Russians to wonder what has gone wrong since the Soviet Union did whatever it takes to reap Olympic gold.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle, second left, accompanied by St. Petersburg Governor Valentina Matviyenko, left, attends the opening of the exhibition devoted to his father, Joseph R. Beyrle, a legendary World War II veteran who fought with U.S. and Soviet armies, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. Russian Museum exhibit, titled "Joseph R. Beyrle _ A Hero of Two Nations," opened in Russia on the life of the American believed to be one of only a few soldiers to fight for both the U.S. and the Soviet Union in World War II. Joseph Beyrle parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and was captured by the Germans. He escaped and joined up with Red Army troops.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle attends the opening of the exhibition devoted to his father, Joseph R. Beyrle, a legendary World War II veteran who fought with U.S. and Soviet armies, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. Russian Museum exhibit, titled "Joseph R. Beyrle _ A Hero of Two Nations," opened in Russia on the life of the American believed to be one of only a few soldiers to fight for both the U.S. and the Soviet Union in World War II. Joseph Beyrle parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and was captured by the Germans. He escaped and joined up with Red Army troops.

U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Beyrle attends the opening of the exhibition devoted to his father, Joseph R. Beyrle, a legendary World War II veteran who fought with U.S. and Soviet armies, in St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010. Russian Museum exhibit, titled "Joseph R. Beyrle _ A Hero of Two Nations," opened in Russia on the life of the American believed to be one of only a few soldiers to fight for both the U.S. and the Soviet Union in World War II. Joseph Beyrle parachuted into Normandy on D-Day with the U.S. 101st Airborne Division and was captured by the Germans. He escaped and joined up with Red Army troops.

Reza Pahlavi whose father, the Shah of Iran, was toppled from power 31 years ago, answers reporter from the Associated Press Thursday Feb. 11, 2010 in Paris. Pahlavi calls on the international community to extend a hand to the Iranian opposition with the kind of backing that ended South Africa's apartheid system or dismembered the Soviet Union.