On January 13, 2009 a riot broke out in Riga (Latvia).

The authorities of the country had lost all trust of the population, industry and agriculture had been completely destroyed, and IMF credits wasted and the people could not pay even for their very modest flats. Mass unemployment and misery was the immediate threat for many thousands. Under these circumstances after a meeting organized by opposition parties some of the people tired of the lies told by politicians and powerlessness of the opposition took to radical action. They threw
stones into the Saeim (Latvian parliament) windows, overthrew police cars, and broke into Latvias Balsams shop, belonging to a well-known atvian politician. This was a spontaneous outburst; it had not been repared by any organization. People of different social classes, ethnic rigin, age and political views took part in the riot.

Now the cases of 46 participants of the event are in court. They are harged for participation in mass disturbances (Art.225 part 2). If they re found guilty they will be sentenced to an enormous prison term - rom 8 to 12 years. The rebels did not kill anybody and the material amage they caused is not so high, yet, the authorities are afraid of ew riots and treat those who dared to challenge them with extreme
cruelty. The people who defended their right to live are judged like riminals.
The participants of the riot are inexperienced in legal matters and the uthorities make use of it. For example, investigators called the uspects and recommended them to come for interrogation without a awyer. There is a large list of policemen who demand that the rebels ndemnify not only for physical damage (like bleeding noses) but also or moral (!) damage, which is estimated many times higher than the hysical one. The list of material damage includes the "expenditure", it eans the authorities want the accused people to compensate for the tear as used to suppress them.

We appeal to our comrades all over the world, to human rights community demand the end of prosecution of participants of January 13 events. atvia wants to have an image of a humane European country where the overnment serves the interests of the people and your protest against he prepared act of state terrorism which mail spoil the "credit rating" f the country can play the crucial role in liberating the people.

Direct Action Group
dir_act_lat@riseup.net

It is important to draw public ttention to the case and execute pressure on Latvian government. etters to the procecutor office could be sent. Here is a possible
version, it has the address and telephone of the office.

Kalpaka bulvaris 6, Riga, LV-1801
Latvijas Republikas Prokuratura
To General Prosecutor of Latvia Janis Maizitis
Tel +37167044400

On January 13, 2009 a riot broke out in Riga (Latvia). he authorities of the country had lost all trust of the population, ndustry and agriculture had been completely destroyed, and IMF redits wasted and the people could not pay even for their very modest lats. Mass unemployment and misery was the immediate threat for many
thousands.

Under these circumstances after a meeting organized by opposition arties some of the people tired of the lies told by politicians and owerlessness of the opposition took to radical action. They threw tones into the Saeim (Latvian parliament) windows, overthrew police ars, and broke into Latvias Balsams shop, belonging to a well-known
Latvian politician. This was a spontaneous outburst; it had not been repared by any organization. People of different social classes, thnic origin, age and political views took part in the riot. he rebels did not kill anybody and the material damage they caused is ot so high, yet, the authorities are afraid of new riots and treat
those who dared to challenge them with extreme cruelty. The people who efended their right to live are judged like criminals.

The investigation was held with numerous violations. The participants f the riot are inexperienced in legal matters and the authorities ake use of it. For example, investigators called the suspects and ecommended them to come for interrogation without a lawyer. There is large list of policemen who demand that the rebels indemnify not nly for physical damage (like bleeding noses) but also for moral (!)
damage, which is estimated many times higher than the physical one. he list of material damage includes the "expenditure", it means the uthorities want the accused people to compensate for the tear gas sed to suppress them.

We demand the end of prosecution of participants of January 13 events.