Deceased Albanian sergeant's body repatriated home

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The body of the deceased Albanian Sergeant Zarife Hasanaj was repatriated to Albania May 9.

A farewell ceremony for Sergeant Hasanaj took place at the Rīga Airport May 9, the Defense Ministry's Press Department informed LETA.

Latvian defense officials and soldiers from the NATO battle group in Latvia and Latvian Land Force's Mechanized Infantry Brigade attended the ceremony.

Flags at all national defense institutions and facilities are flying at half-mast today.

The body of the deceased Albanian sergeant was transported to Albania aboard a military aircraft.

Albanian Sergeant Julian Kapaj, who also suffered injuries in the explosion, is currently at Adazi military base's hospital and his condition is listed as good. On the other hand, Major Klodian Tanushi remains in Riga Eastern Clinical University Hospital's intensive care unit and his condition is critical.

As reported, Sergeant Hasanaj was killed and Albanian Contingent Commander Tanushi and Sergeant Kapaj injured in a blast at the Adazi military training grounds on Monday.

An internal investigation has been launched into the accident and all exercises at the Adazi training grounds have been suspended until the causes of the blast are established.

Latvian Chief of Defense, Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins said that the Albanian soldiers were involved in disposing of unexploded ordnance in Latvia and that the explosion happened as they were preparing a territory for an exercise.

There is a contingent of about 20 unexploded ordnance engineers serving with the Canada-led NATO battle group in Latvia.

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