Anti-government riots in Riga, Latvia

Hundreds of demonstrators have clashed with riot police in Latvia's capital, Riga, after an anti-government protest.
Police used mace and truncheons to disperse rioters who smashed shop windows and overturned a police van after failing to storm parliament.
The violence followed a peaceful rally in which some 10,000 people accused the government of economic mismanagement and demanded new elections.
Latvia's economy is expected to contract by at least 5% this year.
Until last year, it was one of the fastest growing economies in Europe.
Many Latvians frustrated by rising unemployment and tax hikes blame the centre-right governing coalition of Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis for their country's economic woes.
Tuesday's peaceful protest was Latvia's largest since it became independent in 1991.
As the crowd swelled, dozens of protesters tried to storm the parliament building, and hundreds of demonstrators then hurled rocks and chunks of ice at government buildings.
The rioters were dispersed by riot police using mace and truncheons, but they gathered again in a neighbouring street in Riga's historic business distric
There, they overturned a police van, smashed windows and looted shops.
"There was a nice event and then when it finished people decided to go and express their anger and destroy the parliament and then it all spread through Old Riga," Anna Gulbe, 19, told the Associated Press news agency.
More than 30 people were injured in the fracas, medical sources said. Interior Ministry spokeswoman Sigita Pildava said three police officers were seriously wounded.
She added that 126 mostly young, male protesters were detained, many of whom were drunk.
Police reinforcements were called in and the protest was brought under control after about three hours.

[@kristapsmezulis4586]

ak dievs... labi ka tas notika 10 gadus atpakal

[@ivooo85]

Revolution is the answer ! Dont give up people and kick out this sick political system of country. Greetings from Slovakia.

[@lauvzane]

I AM LATVIAN, and I am proud of it.!! :)

[@babs471]

Well said. I think it is getting closer and closer to this type of reaction.

[@roombussr5676]

Anybody else Latvian and can understand everything they're saying.. It makes it even more scary

[@RMSaw]

Soviet okupant,halte maul.

[@WTFpoopstar]

just because most of the county is taken buy russia doent mean latvia likes russia

[@turesii449]

Lol we dont even like them we hate them

[@GrassAndRocks]

"I have no particular love for the idealized 'worker' as he appears in the bourgeois Communist's mind, but when I see an actual flesh-and-blood worker in conflict with his natural enemy, the policeman, I do not have to ask myself which side I am on."

[@danieis9160]

Ja tas būtu biežāk vismaz kautkas būtu mainījies

[@fooxy13]

i live in Latvia- and I'm ashamed of this footage.... ;(

[@ingussilins6330]

Vai tā varēja izvērsties arī protesta akcija 13.12.2021?

[@rajah2004]

WoW , did it changed something?

[@thebizkid84]

Unless a miracle happens in the economic mess we have going on, we're going to see this type of violence going on across the globe soon in every major city. Going into 2010 is going to be some rough times I fear.

[@Elin48]

"The violence followed a peaceful rally in which some 10,000 people accused the government of economic mismanagement and demanded new elections"....and the same will be said about life here in the US, if things don't change for the better, if the American citizenry continue to get the raw deal, while the corporations and bankers are bailed out.

[@tanello2]

did the Government was exchanged?

[@Lachausis]

@pbl826 It's wrong to claim we worked with Nazis, when we didn't. Collaborators did. And if there are idiots who call Latvian Legion nazis, he's thousand times wrong. Legion was a drafted military unit. They were forced to join. Either you join the Legion or you join a concentration camp. Some, who refused, were shot, some joined eagerly to revenge the wrongs done by bolsheviks, most were drafted against their will. The history is never black and white. Especially when it's Latvian history.

[@EpiLPstandard]

man vienmēr licies savādi, ka tieši uz grautiņu tika atvests tāds VW vecais buss, kādus sen vairs nav gadījies redzēt patrulējam un tieši tas tika apgāzts.

[@MrSnicelis]

Just like in Lithuania ..

[@telecaster_7849]

I don't knew about in too long time?

[@insut07]

Welcome to the EU Latvia. This is how it goes every 10-15 years or so, up down up down... get used to it. But if you're very rich you dont have to worry.

[@bobbygnosis]

I know - I can still wish, though.

[@hiacinte05]

i like chaos and in some sick way from the start i thought it was entertaining for someone like me ...but seriously it was sad,stupid and lame, in the end it wasn`t about the politic anymore ...just drunk people having ``fun``...i don`t like to think that this is the way latvians are now, they were just worst part - people who don`t use they brains ...what did they get from this ? attention ...for what kind of price and will it change something for good ? Don`t think so ...

[@h95718]

and the sleeping children and widows and blacksmith's of the land awwoake in an instance...... u were warned of this through the holy scriptures and also by the consiuose minds... this is truly the beggining of sarrows people wake up the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS NEAR AND TARYS NOT......

[@rzgamer3770]

Kads var iskaidrot kapec viss šis notika?

[@0Russia0]

Классная страна.

[@Amboodle]

Latvia FTW.

[@Juutube989]

Luckily the government let people leave the country.

[@SvafarHelgason]

svona á að geratta

[@neticigaistoms]

They had an stil have a choise, don,t speak about things you don,t know...

[@monlanc]

Lūdzu, maksi par manu biļeti uz Maskavas tūrismu izstādi!!!!!

[@monlanc]

@hippopotamuification I'm just tired of all the shit that is happening to this country...

[@liinisx]

@Inguss2 No takeing monei yes... gaverment bed/

[@Nomad2243]

lol 1:15

[@mangisss7948]

O sako Lietuvoje baisesnios riaušės

[@0Russia0]

@joute12 ну расскажи свой анегдот. Когда там латыши , что то могли?

[@JohnNash82]

Lichno ja raznimal narod!!! Mashini v osnovnom bili latishi! Ja svaimi glazami videl kak devochka latishka kidala kirpil v nolicejskij bobik

[@neticigaistoms]

50:50 rusians, latvians, but russians started, I so 30 russian speaking in sky masks came and then it started

[@wHw_Syxx]

@DeamonFighters look at irans ...there cool to lol

[@joute12]

@0Russia0 Virazhajsja po chelovecheski esli otvet kakojto na vopros hochesh. Kto, chto dolzhen moch'? esli prosto obsiratsa hochesh - u menja na eto ni vremeni ni zhelanija net.

[@joute12]

@0Russia0 horoshij anegdot - prjam v stile volodi putina. Pouchite istoriju vmeste.

[@psavari]

KUR MILITARI POLICIJA?

[@turesii449]

Tur bija ja tu neredzeji

[@0Russia0]

@joute12 Если учесть , что Латвия никогда не принадлежала латышам. То можно сказать , что наши земляки выгоняют оккупантов.

[@SpartanLV]

Damn RUSKIES.... :(((

[@JohnNash82]

Ну флаг взяли чтобы показать что не только латыши недовольны положением в стране.. Лично я стоял с латвийским флагом

[@RMSaw]

Ka vattainos atpizdjīja....😂

[@lkrnpk]

Russians are not our enemies wtf... It's not like Latvia is totally divided in two parts and Latvians don't speak with Russians at all, I have a lot of Russian friends... I dunno of course there might be both Russian and Latvian people who do not interact with each other but that's maybe possible if you're still in school and living in places where there is not many Russians or Latvians living. As soon as you enter job market you will have to work closely with both Russians and Latvians.....