Riga, May 9 (LETA) - The State Police have so far initiated 36 administrative offence proceedings and detained two persons in connection with May 9 in all regions of Latvia, LETA was informed.

Almost all of the administrative offense proceedings have been initiated for the use of symbols glorifying military aggression and war crimes in a public place. This offence is punishable by a warning or a fine of up to EUR 350 for a natural person or up to EUR 2,900 for a legal person.

One administrative offense has been started for disturbing public order by violating generally accepted norms of behavior and disturbing the peace of a person, the work of an institution, business or other body or endangering the safety of oneself or others.

In the Riga region, most of the cases reported to the police have been about a number of Russian inscriptions on the wall of a building with texts praising the war.

The Riga Municipal Police immediately reported all these cases to the responsible bodies of the Riga City Council to have the paintings removed. There were also attempts to play songs praising military aggression or to place flowers on the site of the dismantled monument in Victory Park.

In the Kurzeme region, almost all the violations related to memorial sites or cemeteries, where, despite warnings previously issued by the police that the placing of flowers or candles is not allowed if it is carried out in the places of dismantled monuments or in a way that creates compositions glorifying military aggression. The flowers have also been accompanied by St.George ribbons as well as ribbons bearing various military slogans in Russian.

In Zemgale, for example, a cyclist had attached pioneer badges of the former Soviet Union to his clothes. In this case, an administrative offense procedure was initiated and the maximum fine of EUR 350 was immediately imposed.

In Latgale, more cases have been recorded of people going to the sites of dismantled monuments.

In Vidzeme, at the Jaunpiebalga Brethren Cemetery, letters Z and V were painted on a monument.

Social media posts where supporters of Russian military aggression have not been shy to express their position publicly are also being assessed.

According to the State Police and the State Security Service, May 9 until 15.30 in Latvia passed quietly, with no serious security incidents.

As reported, the State Security Service (VDD) in cooperation with the State Police will be working on high alert on Friday.

In Latvia, like in many other countries elsewhere in the world, the official day for commemoration of the end of World War II is May 8, while May 9 is Europe Day.

On May 9, under the influence of the propaganda policy of the Russian ruling regime, for many years a part of the Latvian public celebrated the victory in the Second World War, one of the cornerstones of the Putin regime's ideology.

In 2023, the Saeima passed a law banning public and festive events, meetings, processions and pickets on May 9 that are aimed at disparaging and undermining Latvia's values as a democratic and nation state, including dividing society, glorifying war, military aggression, totalitarianism or violence, as well as the false representation of historical events.