Police in Riga, Town Hall Square, have detained a total of four people in the afternoon on Friday, 13 May. One of them is Latvian member of the European Parliament Tatyana Zhdanok.
Police report one person was detained for using a ribbon of St. George. Three other persons were detained for participating in an unsanctioned rally.
As previously reported, prior to the rally police in Riga had closed access to Riga Town Hall Square. Police officers were also stationed on top floors of the city council to observe the situation.
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.
Members of the Latvian Russians Union arrived at the rally as well.
Police warned people to disperse, promising to use force if need be. Police reminded that no event was approved to be held at Town Hall Square. Some people complied and left, but stayed in the vicinity of Town Hall Square nonetheless.
Riga City Council has convened to discuss the issue of demolition of the Soviet monument in Pārdaugava. Latvian Russians Union wanted to organize a rally to oppose this decision, but it was not permitted. Instead the party has decided to take the issue to court.
The party’s co-chairman Miroslavs Mitrofanovs previously said the party would organize a rally only if a court of law permits it.
After the city council refused to permit the rally, the party posted an invitation on social media for residents to not gather at Town Hall Square.
Mitrofanovs explained that the refusal to permit the rally is related to a secret document from the State Security Service, the content of which is unknown to the party.
«Organisers of the rally were told about possible provocations, but not what those provocations could be or who could be behind them,» added the co-chairman of 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.
It should be added that Zhdanok was one of the few MEPs that officially did not support Ukraine in the official resolution of the European Parliament.