Latvia refused the law enforcement agencies of Belarus, who wanted to interrogate the head of the Foreign Ministry of Edgar Rinkevich and the mayor of Riga Martins Stakis, reports BelTA.
The criminal case against the Latvian officials was opened under the article “The incitement of national hostility” after they removed the state flag of Belarus from the square in Riga, where the flags of the participating championship of the World Hockey Championship were posted. The canvas replaced the white-red and white flag, which uses the Belarusian opposition.
“In the second half of July, we sent a request to the Latvian colleagues about the receipt of notifications to these officials, according to which they should appear on the investigative committee. Until the last time, there was no answer,” said the first deputy chairman of the investigative Committee of Belarus Oleg Shadarovich.
According to him, on September 20, a request for interrogation was re-sent, but on the territory of Latvia. “In response to our request, the Latvian side indicated that he could not fulfill the request,” Shadarovich said.
“disrespect for the state flag, the coat of arms or hymn degrades and insults that the people who person symbols. Causes bewilderment, as officials of such a high level could commit such blasphemia,” said Shadarovich.
Belarus after the presidential elections on August 9, 2020, mass protests began with the demand from the resignation of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko and holding new presidential elections. The reason for them was the estimated violations during the vote. A symbol of protest shares was a white-red and white banner (“Bel-Chyrvona-Bella Citguby”, BCB), which from 1991 to 1995 was the state flag of Belarus.