Other events in Baltic States

International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics Tuesday, 19.03.2024, 07:31

Foreign protester detained by Freedom Monument in Riga

BC, Riga, 16.03.2018.Print version

Officers of the State Police detained an English-speaking protester who was picketing by the Freedom Monument in the Riga center as a procession commemorating the Latvian Legion, or the soldiers who were drafted to fight on the side of the German forces in World War II, was about to approach the monument, LETA observed.


The protester was holding a poster with a picture of a Nazi concentration camp prisoner. The man was holding the sign and shouting slogans in English.


The man was in the midst of a group of more than ten people who, led by Tatjana Zdanoka, the leader of the Russian Union of Latvia, awaited the commemorative procession by the Freedom Monument.


The procession went very peacefully and without any incidents until it reached the Freedom Monument where the marchers were met by the aforementioned group of protesters and a man in a T-shirt with the slogan supporting Latvia’s Russian schools. The man shouted “Shame to Hitler’s fans!” but failed to attract any special attention.


People in the Zdanoka-led group held posters reading in various languages “They fought on Adolf Hitler’s side”, shouted various slogans and engaged in altercations with participants of the procession.


Since Zdanoka had not announced any official counter-demonstration against the Legion Day procession, the activities of her group drew police officers’ attention. Initially, the exchange of words was rather calm, but then the dispute escalated and one of the members of the group started resisting the officers. After a brief jostle, the man was handcuffed and driven away in a police vehicle.





Search site