In the last six months State Police in Latvia have launched a total of 125 criminal proceedings and 290 administrative violation procedures over violations related to Russian-Ukrainian war.
State Police report there are still 173 ongoing inspections.
The majority of uncovered violations of the law are related to use of symbols glorifying military aggression and totalitarian regimes, as well as crimes committed against property owned by Ukrainian citizens.
Police continue uncovering new cases of stolen or damaged Ukrainian flags.
For example, on 7 August two men, clearly drunk, tore down Ukraine’s flag from a building in Jekabpils, Rigas Street. Later the flag was found thrown away in the grass. The flag was returned to its place on the same day, but it was stolen again by someone else around 22:00 p.m. Police found the perpetrator and he admitted his guilt.
On 15 August a similar incident happened in Riga, Kalpaka Boulevard, when some youngster took down Ukraine’s flag from a facade of a building and threw it down on the ground.
Police registered other incidents, namely situations in which people’s property was damaged. On 9 August, for example, State Police received a complaint from a Ukrainian citizen, who said someone poured some kind on liquid on his car – a KIA model – damaging it.
Latvian State Police look at every incident individually. Information analysis and investigation are performed carefully in each case.
State Police reminds that the situation is monitored very carefully. Authorities focus on any opinion and behaviour related to aggression towards Ukrainian refugees or in support of Russian war in Ukraine. Residents are urged to report possible violations or disruptions of public order. If such things happen, residents should call State Police by dialling 110!
Also read: Zelenskiy: Ukraine was reborn as a new nation when Russia invaded