Police officers in Latvia detained 26 people because of the celebration of Victory Day on May 9 and opened 38 administrative cases. According to RBC with reference to the Latvian media, this was reported in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country.
Four criminal cases have also been opened.
The largest number of arrests took place in the Riga region (22), where the majority of cases of administrative offenses were initiated (21).
The most common violations: laying flowers at the places where the dismantled Soviet monuments were located and wearing the St. George ribbon.
In addition, several people were detained for violating the rules for using pyrotechnics. The police recalled that the launch of pyrotechnics is prohibited for a day from 7 am on May 9. For this, a fine of 350 euros for individuals and 1,400 euros for legal entities is threatened.
The police also initiated four criminal proceedings under Article 74.1 of the Criminal Code of Latvia (justification of genocide, war crimes, crimes against peace): two in Riga, two in Daugavpils. They are connected with statements about the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
In April, the Latvian Seimas passed a law that would ban “certain public events” on May 9. Only events on the occasion of Europe Day can be assigned to this date (on this day in 1950 it was proposed to begin the integration of the industry of West Germany and France, as a result of which the predecessor of the EU, the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), appeared).
Source: Rosbalt
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