Photo: Paula Čurkste/LETA
Last week Latvian State Police removed an anti-war poster produced by film director Juris Pakalniņš that was set up outside the Russian embassy in Riga for a couple of days, as reported by TV3 programme Nekā personīga.
Last week Pakalniņš set up a poster with the title V.Putins ‘Special Operation in Ukraine’ outside the Russian embassy.
«I came up with the idea watching what is happening in Ukraine, all the violence. I decided I couldn’t take it any more, so I bought press carton and necessary materials and started working on this masterpiece,» the director told the programme.
Kino režisors Juris Pakalniņš:-Man ir bailes, ka policijā strādā miliči. pic.twitter.com/ACmGJJWxhV
— Nepareizais (@realNepareizais) March 27, 2022
The poster features Russia’s flag and a swastika on it. At the bottom it has the title – «V.Putin Special Operation in Ukraine. New machines – tanks, missiles, aviation, fleet, TV». The poster is affixed to a frame standing on wooden legs.
During the poster’s installation, police officers guarding the Russian embassy took an interest in it. They asked if the organiser has a permit to install the structure and if it’s been coordinated with the municipality. Likely what caught their interest was the swastika, the use of which at public events is strongly prohibited, unless used for artistic purposes.
The wooden legs were also one of the reason for the poster’s removal – police decided it can be considered an installation, which requires coordinating with the municipal administration, the programme reports.
Later police decided to remove the art installation. A transport was organised and the piece – removed. The poster didn’t last even a single day. The director was promised his poster will be removed once a permit for public display has been received from the municipal administration.
Riga City Council told the programme that currently, under special conditions the bureaucratic machine is not engaged and no permits for public display of art installations are required. Pakalniņš did receive an official permit.
After five days police decided to return the poster. The poster was returned to the area outside the Russian embassy in the afternoon on Tuesday.
«The objective of the police is reducing all possible risks of confrontations between different groups of individuals and protest act participants. Looking at it objectively, this art may cause just that,» State Police Public Relations Office told the programme.
State Police stress this was not in any way related to any restriction of freedom of speech or freedom of opinion. The situation was assessed from a security and legal point of view.
«It is also important to keep in mind that this art installation was set up on 16 March – the day that is assessed every year in the context of increased risks of provocations. Additionally, such behaviour also prepares the soil for propaganda about the resurrection of fascism in Latvia,» State Police explain.
Police explain that the initially innocent and protest act may have real consequences that could directly or indirectly affect the Latvian residents who are currently in Russia.
Police deny claims that Pakalniņš’s poster was removed following a request from the Russian embassy.