By midday on May 9, the police had initiated 35 administrative processes related to the use of prohibited symbols and glorification of military aggression. Most violations were recorded online, but individual cases also occurred at memorial sites for Soviet soldiers.
The State Police of Latvia reported that May 9 is generally proceeding without serious incidents; however, cases of the use of symbols and music, which law enforcement considers as glorification of military aggression, have already been recorded in various regions of the country.
According to the police, by 3:00 PM, 35 administrative processes had been initiated. Almost all of them are related to the use of prohibited symbols or materials that justify war crimes and aggression.
Most violations were identified in the digital environment, but ten cases were recorded in public places.
In the Riga region, the police identified individuals whose clothing or accessories displayed Georgievskaya ribbons, Russian symbols, the coat of arms of Russia, and inscriptions saying "Russia." One man near the Salaspils memorial received two administrative processes at once.
In Daugavpils, a man in a state of severe alcohol intoxication was walking along Rigas Street with a portable speaker playing a song glorifying military aggression.
Another incident occurred in Riga at the Plavnieki cemetery, where a man was playing a song glorifying the Red Army from his car.
The police also issued two administrative protocols for being in a public place in a state of severe alcohol intoxication. Two individuals near memorial sites in Salaspils were recorded with blood alcohol levels of five and two per mille.
For ordinary residents, this means that the police are particularly closely monitoring not only mass events this year but also individual actions, symbols, and publications on the internet.
Authorities emphasize that individual laying of flowers at burial sites is not prohibited. However, attempts to bring flowers to dismantled Soviet monuments may be regarded as glorification of aggression.
It is important to know: in Latvia, public use of symbols of totalitarian regimes, as well as symbols that justify military aggression and war crimes, is prohibited.
To ensure order, the police are operating in an enhanced mode on May 9 in cooperation with the State Security Service and other structures.
Residents are also urged to report any possible provocations or actions aimed at inciting tension and spreading pro-Russian messages.
The State Security Service noted that no events creating significant threats to the country's security have been recorded so far.
The topic of May 9 in Latvia has remained one of the most sensitive in society for many years. For some residents, the date is associated with the memory of victory over Nazism, while for others, it is linked to the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states.
To read about how May 9 was observed in Daugavpils, click here>>
Leave a comment