State Police chief suspends three police officials in relation with May 10 events in Pardaugava

• Published date: 13 May 2022
• Publication title: LETA

RIGA, May 13 (LETA) - State Police Chief Armands Ruks has suspended three Riga Regional Police officials from their position in relation to their inactivity in ensuring public order in Victory Park in Riga on May 10.

The State Police said that the suspended officials where officials who made decision on the spot on that day.

The police reported that the internal probe discovered that that the situation had not been properly assessed on the part of these police officers and that the tactics for dealing with it had not been correctly chosen. The action had to be immediate and unequivocal - a direct signal to the unauthorized gathering that any activities instigating hatred, supporting the war would not be tolerated.

The initial probe suggests that the responsible officials and the present police officers had not acted professionally. Besides, they failed to react to direct orders of the Operational Management Office, the Riga Regional Police and even State Police Chief Armands Ruks which were "clear and explicit - to stop the violations and disperse the crowd". In fact, action was taken only when Ruks himself took over the lead on the site.

The probe...