Latvian police pulled in many officers in Riga, Town Hall Square in the afternoon on Friday, 13 May. The objective was to prevent an unsanctioned rally, as reported by LETA.
Police officers, including members of the Special Operations Battalion, were deployed on streets leading to the Town Hall Square. Law enforcers were also stationed on the top floor of the city council and observed the situation at the square. No protesters are present at the Town Hall Square now, only some tourists, passers-by and two men holding Latvia’s flags.
LETA reports that police had completely closed off access to Town Hall Square. About 50 people had gathered at the square from the side of Daugava River. Those people were allegedly participants of the potential rally and their opponents.
People there were seen discussing topical developments and news, according to witnesses.
Members of Latvian Russian Union’s Riga City Council faction were seen meeting with participants of this potential rally. Some of the discussions were heard going on loudly and with signs of aggression.
Riga City Council is engaged in talks regarding the possible demolition of the Soviet monument in Pārdaugava. To oppose this decision, Latvian Russians Union (LKS) wanted to organise a rally at the Town Hall Square in Riga, but no permission was granted. The party has decided to take the case to court.
The party’s co-chairman Miroslavs Mitrofanovs previously said the rally would be organised only if a court of law permits it.
Following the municipal administration’s refusal to permit the rally, LKS posted an invitation on social media for residents to not gather at the Town Hall Square on Friday, 13 May.
Mitrofanovs explained that the refusal to permit the rally is associated with some secret document of the State Security Service the contents of which are unknown to them.
«Organisers of the rally were informed that authorities expect provocations, but they did not explain what those provocations could be and who could be behind them,» added the co-chairman of LKS.
The State Security Service provided Riga City Council with a negative conclusion regarding the rally requested to be held at the Town Hall Square by LKS.
Latvian Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva said the chief of State Security Service Normunds Mežviets told her about the negative report he submitted to Riga City Council about the possible rally by LKS, which is why the minister intends to ask the CEO of Riga City Council to follow the recommendation from competent authorities.