Police in Latvia fine man for drawing war-glorifying symbols on pavement

Latvian State Police have fined a man EUR 200 for drawing symbols glorifying the Russian war in Ukraine.
As BNN found out from the police, on Saturday, 7 May, an inspector of State Police Zemgale Region spotted some man drawing several symbols that glorify Russian war in Ukraine – Z, V, ZOV – on the pavement on the intersection between Dzelzavas Street and G.Astra Street.
Upon spotting the crime, the police officer, who was on his day off, contacted his State Police colleagues. The officer held the man detained until the police arrived.
Upon arrival at the scene, State Police took the man and delivered him to the police department. The man attempted to explain that the symbols he drew were not ones that glorify war, rather letters of his own name even though the man’s name and surname contained none of the letters or their combination. It it worth mentioning that this man had runs-ins with the police in the past.
On the same day State Police Riga Teika Police Department commenced a criminal procedure over use of symbols that glorify war in a public place. A fine of EUR 200 was imposed.
State Police had previously reported multiple times that when it comes to different violations of the law related to the Russian-Ukrainian war, the absolute majority involve the drawing of symbols that glorify Russia’s war on the pavement or different buildings of local infrastructure.
Upon uncovering such cases, police initiate both inspections and administrative procedures to determine what really happened and bring to justice those who committed the crimes.
Police carefully monitor the situation and pay special attention to any opinions related to aggression towards Ukrainian refugees or in support of of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Police urge residents to report such cases, suspicious persons and public order disruptions to 110.