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European Parliament member detained in Riga amid protest at removal of Soviet statue

The authorities of the Latvian capital didn’t allow the rally seeking to protect the monument

RIGA, May 13. /TASS/. Latvian police detained European Parliament member and leader of the Russian Union of Latvia party Tatiana Zhdanok during rally against the decision by the Riga City Council to remove the monument to Soviet soldiers in Victory Park, the party said on Facebook (banned in the Russian Federation; owned by the Meta corporation, which is recognized as extremist in the Russian Federation) on Friday.

"Town Hall Square is sealed off. The government is afraid of the voice of the people," the post said. "RSL deputies are near the Riga City Council. Police have detained European Parliament member Tatiana Zhdanok."

RSL is how the Russian Union of Latvia party is also known.

The authorities of the Latvian capital didn’t allow the rally seeking to protect the monument. Nevertheless, people who disagreed with the decision of the city council gathered near the Town Hall Square in Riga. The police sealed off the area.

Miroslav Mitrofanov, co-chairman of the RSL, urged citizens not to confront the police, but noted that the actions of the Riga authorities cause a deep rift among the country’s residents to persist.

City Council Chairman Stakis earlier said the Latvian parliament had to pass a law that would allow to dismantle the monument. The Justice Ministry was ordered to submit a legal justification for the removal of the monument to Soviet soldiers.

The Latvian Saeima on May 12 passed the final reading of a bill that suspends an agreement with Russia regarding monuments, which allows a demolition of the monument to Soviet soldiers in Riga.

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