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“We are still working about the technicality, where and how we will transfer … there is nothing political.”

Tripes said many in the Czech diaspora — he estimated there are roughly 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,” explained an emailed response from Juris Audarins, the ambassador of Latvia to Canada. “It is hard to find any one family of Latvian descent who has not been affected by the ensuing totalitarianism.”

“The Embassy of Latvia believes that Tribute to Liberty’s idea for the commemorative monument is worthy of support,” Audarins added.

Pierre Poilievre, the minister in charge of the National Capital Commission, said the “generous donations from the Latvian and Czech Government demonstrate the importance for this memorial.”

Ludwik Klimkowski, the chair of Tribute to Liberty, declined to comment on the donations or whether or not the charity had approached foreign governments in order to help pay for the proposed $5.5-million monument.