Footage released of MP's attack on medics

Take note – story published 8 years ago

Whistleblowing website Pietiek.com has released footage purporting to show a Latvian member of parliament attacking an ambulance crew trying to help him.

The footage, released Thursday, appears to show National Alliance member of parliament Andris Vilks launching a series of punches at medical staff - including women - while railing with slurred speech in both Latvian and Russian.

Vilks should not be confused with former finance minister and Unity party deputy Andris Vilks, who is a man of famously moderate habits.

The incident happened in February.

Vilks laid aside his mandate in the aftermath of the incident and maintained his "complete innocence". Since then he has been serving as a member of Riga City Council.

He claimed not to have been drunk while admitting to having taken some alcoholic drinks on the evening in question.

His behavior was due to a bump on the head, he told LTV at the time.

The footage appears to show the MP launching repeated assaults on the ambulance crew who are eventually forced to restrain him.

The footage is likely to cause considerable embarrassment to the National Alliance which likes to tout its moral stance, family values and law-and-order credentials.

The party, which is one of three in Latvia's ruling coalition, moved to distance itself from Vilks Friday.

Leading member Raivis Dzintars told the LETA news agency after watching the video that "Such people have no place in the National Alliance."

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