State Police Deputy chief Andris Zellis said: “Our main task was to prevent provocation, violence and riots.” Police chief Armands Ruks said that police had worked well in monitoring the activity.
Two criminal proceedings have been launched, one on the smashing of a police car, and the other on a five-person attack on a local government policeman. Two people have been placed in temporary detention.
Vienai no @Valsts_policija automašīnām, kura atradās pie Ministru kabineta, kāds no sanākušajiem cilvēkiem izsitis stiklu. Prom braucošo automašīnu cilvēki pavada ar gavilēm un svilpieniem. pic.twitter.com/euKcwWDXmN
— LTV Ziņu dienests (@ltvzinas) August 18, 2021
Ruks said that the politicians organizing the protest were acting recklessly. “There will be responsibilities, the position in the society does not free them from responsibility, and this was not responsible,” the police chief said.
He said that many alcohol abuse offences were recorded during the protest. The police also have recordings, so the responsibility of both the organizers and the participants involved will still be assessed.
