About 5000 residents gathered outside the Saeima on Wednesday evening in protest against Latvia's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, making this protest one of the largest in recent years, the State Police assured the LETA agency.
As observed by the LETA agency, the picket started at 6 PM, and shortly after 7 PM, its participants began to disperse. According to the agency's observations, the picket took place without incidents.
The gathered individuals with placards called to "stop covering for those who hit" and not to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.
The attendees held flags of Latvia and the European Union. Flags of the LGBTQ+ community were also waving outside the Saeima building.
The participants of the picket, mostly young people, noted that "the opinion of populists is not the people's truth." The participants brought their children and pets with them.
The protesters shouted slogans such as: "By lobbying for Russia, we are not protecting Latvia," "Conventions - yes, obscurantism - no!", "Today's decisions - tomorrow's bruises," and so on. The gathered used flashes from phone cameras and other lighting devices, as well as wind instruments and sang.
A sufficient number of law enforcement officers monitored the situation, with a noticeably larger presence in Old Riga than usual.
The participants of the picket noted that many EU countries urged Latvian parliamentarians to reconsider and not withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.
The Saeima supported the bill proposing Latvia's withdrawal from the convention in the first reading with 52 votes. A vote in the second, final reading is expected tomorrow.
Leave a comment