"an order issued by the Cabinet regarding the announcement of an emergency shall not prejudice the right of people to visit any memorial site individually, observing the requirements of separation. The order does not divide people by nationality, does not divide people who have the right to place flowers and who do not, and respects each person's personal motivation for setting flowers, particularly when people mention the relatives who have died. On May 4, I also placed flowers at the Freedom Monument with my son, celebrating the restoration of Latvia's independence. Of course, there are exceptions to people who openly extolled Nazi Germany and the USSR's crimes against humanity or violate the country's public peace and order,” says Interior Minister Sandis Girgens.
On 9 May, an average of around 200 thousand people visit the Monument of Victory each year, resulting in gross public order transgression, excessive alcohol use and aggression. Throughout the pandemic, the National and Local Government Police have consistently worked on a preventive model, initially giving verbal warnings about the respect of distance to persons subject to 2 m restrictions. That pattern on May 9 focused on preventing provocations and aggression. As well as at the Freedom Monument, certain persons were also detained at the Monument of Victory and administrative proceedings were initiated. This year, the number of people at the Monument of Victory fell about 8-10 times to around 20-25 thousand people, where one of the factors is also the prevention of services. It should also be noted that there was largely no long-term presence on the ground and there was a constant change in human flow. Unlike other years, there was no observable and no mass aggression, the use of alcoholic beverages and the rude disturbance of public peace and order.
The operational meeting last week considered the possibility of deploying barrier corridors to control human flows, but at the expected number of visitors, it would extend the length of persons' stay at the monument, which would create even greater epidemiological risks, as well as a number of kilometres long. “As regards gatherings, persons were either alone or in the circle of their household - these groups of people are not subject to the Cabinet's order to observe a distance of 2 metres. Of course, we cannot rule out that people gathered at certain moments of time without noticing the distance of 2 m, but also the police were between them and performed their duties, so it would not be right to judge the work of the home affairs on individual photographs or videos on social networks which, at a certain angle, could create optical communication. It would be naive to think that the 75 th anniversary since the end of the Second World War at the Monument of Victory would not be anyone, but thanks to the day-to-day work, we have prevented any mass riots,” stresses the Minister for Home Affairs.
“In any case, photographs and videos are currently being analysed, as well as the quality of the work of the National Police Order police is carefully assessed in order to improve public order. This morning I met with the Chief of State Police Officer A. Grishin and Deputy Chief of VP, Chief Order Police Officer N. Krapsis, who reported on the performance of service duties on May 9. “I have also provided a detailed explanation for the work done by the services to Prime Minister Krishjanis Karins,” continues the Minister.
On the prevention measures taken to reduce the potential flow of people:
1. was denied the possibility of placing road transport in adjacent areas of the monument, which already reduced the desire for a certain circle of people to go to the monument;
2. Any street trade in adjacent areas, particularly flowers, was refused;
3. with the closest merchants, and so on. certain services were denied;
4 was placed on site by informational bankers in 3 languages with a warning not to gather and comply with dis-tanci;
5. was provided with a constant display of warnings from police road transport;
6 was placed on site at the monument with signs of distance - crossings, analogous as they were arranged. at points of sale;
7. Operational Meeting last week considered the possibility of setting up barrier corridors for the control of human flows, but this would extend the stay of persons at the specific monument, which would create even greater epidemiological risks;
8. has been subjected to preventive work with various organisations, has been negotiated with the possible hidden organisers of the event, warning about the penalties. in the event of non-compliance with the situation,
9. In the area of the victory park for controlling the public order there was involved dozens of police officers, who controled the territory to be sure that all necesarry requirements are being that ̄ if ̄, ̄, ̄ the area in order to ̄ them, or the ̌ i ̄ s require ̄ companies;
10. It ̄ even public ̄ that ̄ ̄ monitoring ̄ the involvement of ̄ ̄ cinema windows, that ̄ included ̄ hypologists who, while on horses, ̄ the situation from a high ̄ point of view, ̄ to a ̄ tra ̄, if it is not ̌ that the ̄ of distribution is not observed; "Every year, the Interior Services are black workers between two divided groups of society with great public resonance and frustration.
“There is no doubt that any part of society wanted to see the delimitation of mass detention or territory, but the law against everyone is the same, regardless of nationality, and the home affairs services cannot work on the basis of emotion,” continues the Minister.
Prepare:
Beata Jonite
Minister of the Interior Councillor for Communications
Mob.: 28351588
E-mail: beata.jonite@iem.gov.lv