CEN Students at the Latvian school designed the rings

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Bizarrely the pupils picked the memorabilia themselves in line with the school’s tradition. But the grammar school in Rezekne, Latvia has come under fire with the city mayor Aleksandrs Bartasevics demanding a meeting with the school’s administration. The soon-to-be graduates designed the items ahead of their departure from the school in eastern Latvia's Latgalia region.

Getty Images The symbol is a reminder of the Holocaust and the nazi regime for many worldwide

A picture of the questionable memento was made public by one of the future graduates. Allegedly, the decision to use the swastika - arguably the most hated symbol of the 20th century - was unanimous among students. But the tasteless tokens have sparked debate in the area with some suggesting local citizens believe that a swastika is an ancient Latvian symbol.

CEN The rings and token were handed to soon-to-be graduates

Others claim that for the last 25 years local officials have been trying to rehabilitate the idea of Nazism among the nation. Once a year, volunteers who fought with the SS Latvian Legion against the Russians are honoured with a march through the streets of the capital Riga. But it is unclear why these school pupils should have opted for such a hateful and divisive symbol to remember their schooldays by. Some Hindu groups have tried to 're-claim' the swastika in recent years to reintroduce it as a symbol of peace and wellbeing.