At least 10,000 people gathered at Dome Square in Riga on Thursday evening to protest against Latvia’s possible withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, according to estimates by the State Police.
The LETA news agency observed that people continued to arrive, filling not only Dome Square but also the surrounding side streets.
Among those present were families with young children as well as older citizens. Members of the Saeima (Parliament), including MPs from New Unity, also joined the protesters.
The crowd held signs calling on the government not to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. Some posters depicted three stars, inspired by the Freedom Monument. Participants waved Latvian and European Union flags, used phone flashlights and other light sources, and some wore elements of national dress. Many were dressed in red, following the organizers’ call to do so.
Well-known public figures, including Velta Čebotarenoka and Dainis Īvāns, addressed the crowd.
Between speeches, protesters shouted slogans such as “Treason!”, “Copying Russia does not defend Latvia!”, and sang songs together.
A large number of law enforcement officers were present, visible not only in the heart of Old Riga but also in the surrounding area. Some police officers were accompanied by dogs.
Videos shared on social media showed that people in other Latvian cities also gathered to sing together. According to police estimates, the number of participants in other cities ranged from a few dozen to several hundred.
Protests against Latvia’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention were also held on Thursday in other European countries and even in the United States.
Although the Saeima has postponed its final decision on the possible withdrawal,
organizers previously estimated that more than 5,000 people would participate in the protest.
Shortly before the demonstration began, Beata Jonite, a representative of the Marta Centre, emphasized that the goal of the protest was to express public opposition to leaving the Convention and to remind society of the importance of human rights. The event, she said, would also demonstrate social unity and solidarity, as people were coming together to defend their values.
“We are protesting because we will not allow our politicians to play with human rights and our country’s international reputation,” Jonite said, adding that “the damage has already been done.”
She noted that postponing the Saeima’s decision until next year does not mean the issue is resolved — only delayed. This means that discussions about human rights in Latvia will continue for at least another year.
If the next Saeima decides to withdraw from the Convention,
there would still be the possibility of challenging the issue before the Constitutional Court or holding a referendum,
Jonite added. She believes that withdrawal would go against the interests of society and could negatively affect Latvia’s reputation internationally.
“It’s hard to imagine going back on this. It already shows an absolutely inconsistent foreign policy. Joining and leaving international treaties without reason is incoherent,” Jonite said.
As previously reported, this autumn the opposition party Latvia First (LPV) submitted a bill in the Saeima to denounce the Istanbul Convention. The proposal was supported not only by other opposition parties — National Alliance (NA), United List (AS), and For Stability! — but also by the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS), a member of the ruling coalition. The ruling New Unity (JV) and Progressives parties opposed the withdrawal. Despite this, the bill passed by a majority vote.
A significant portion of the public expressed dissatisfaction with the decision, and the President of Latvia returned the bill on the denouncement of the Istanbul Convention to the Saeima for reconsideration.
This week, the Saeima referred the President’s rejected bill to the Foreign Affairs Committee,
setting a one-year deadline for submitting proposals. This effectively means that the law on withdrawal will have to be reconsidered by the next parliament.
Most experts and NGOs working on violence prevention oppose the idea of withdrawal, expressing concerns that it would weaken protections for victims of violence and harm Latvia’s image among its Western allies.
Last Wednesday, around 5,000 people gathered outside the Saeima in a previous protest against the withdrawal, making it one of the largest demonstrations in recent years. Meanwhile, more than 67,000 people signed a ManaBalss.lv petition calling on the President to return the bill to the Saeima for reconsideration.
In Latvia, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence — known as the Istanbul Convention — entered into force on May 1 of last year.
It is an international treaty requiring member states to implement coordinated policies to better protect women from all forms of violence, and both women and men from domestic abuse. Member states must ensure comprehensive assistance and protection for victims, provide crisis centers and 24-hour hotlines, establish specialized support centers for victims of sexual violence, and protect and support children who witness violence.
Read also: Law to denounce the Istanbul Convention will be reviewed by the next Saeima