LATVIA
Gay Pride Organisers "Trapped" in Riga Hotel – Rescued by Cabinet Minister
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RIGA, July 22, 2006 – Organisers of Riga Gay Pride have been "rescued" after being trapped for hours in the in the Reval Latvia Hotel, with "hysterical" protesters surrounding the building. Sources say that the deputy Prime Minister had ordered that the organisers are to be "rescued". A senior member of the Latvian cabinet arrived at the hotel this evening , spoke to the trapped organisers who, with police protection, left the building and were whisked away to safety in a special bus. "We had not choice but to book a safe room," said Juris Lavrikovs, one of the organisers and a staff member of ILGA-Europe. He was speaking before the Government "rescue" "We are all safe, but the hysterical crowd are still outside – we do not know when we will be able to leave," he added. Many of those attending the Pride function managed to leave the hotel by various side entrances. But the protesters, who were staging an illegal demonstration, soon got wise and blocked all entrances, leaving about a dozen inside. Mr. Lavrikovs said the the protesters outside the hotel were holding an illegal demonstration and that they had done considerable damage. LINKS
OTHER RIGA PRIDE COVERAGE Neo-Nazis Terrorise Riga Gay Pride Rally. By Peter Tatchell. Neo-Nazi, Christian fundamentalist and extreme nationalist protesters terrorised participants at the Gay Pride rally in the Latvian capital of Riga last Saturday (July 22, 2006). Private armed guards were drafted in to provide security, after the Latvian police repeatedly failed to halt the aggression of the homophobic mob. (UK Gay News, July 22, 2006) Riga Gay Pride: Lars Grava - “The Story That Needs To Be Told”. Open Letter From Lars Grava. Dearest friends: I am writing this in English since the story needs to be told far and wide. This is the story from my perspective. Everyone else who was there will have other stories to share. Gaston and I are safe after yesterday's well-organized fascist attacks against the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community in Riga during Pride. (UK Gay News, July 22, 2006) Riga Gay Pride: Putting the European Union to the Test. Commentary. Sophie In’t Veld, the Dutch MEP and a vice president of the European Parliament’s Intergroup for gay and lesbian rights did not mince her words. “It’s putting Europe to the test,” she charged. (UK Gay News, July 22, 2006) Prohibiting Gay Rights March Is Blow for Democracy. Commentary by Mozaīka. ... Democracy is being held hostage by the strengthening forces of extremism in Latvian society. These forces have been encouraged by the unwillingness of the political elite to rein them in, and indeed by the continuous barrage of hate speech indulged in with impunity by many politicians themselves. (UK Gay News, July 22, 2006) Riga Gay Pride: It's Worse Than Moscow. By Nikolai Alexeyev. It is astonishing. It’s worse than Moscow. There is total chaos here. The police seem very weak and disorganized. The fascists are able to act at will. And Latvia is in the European Union. (UK Gay News, July 22, 2006) Citing National Security, Court Says No To Riga Gay Pride. The Administrative Court in Riga has this afternoon upheld the decision of the City authorities to ban the Gay Pride Parade, due to be held tomorrow, on the grounds of “national security” and concerns over public order. (UK Gay News, July 21, 2006) Riga Gay Pride: We Will Not Organise Any Illegal Event. As the decision of the Administrative Court as to whether or not tomorrow’s Gay Pride March in Riga can go ahead, organisers said today that “regardless of the outcome, we will not organise any illegal event”. (UK Gay News, July 21, 2006) Riga Gay Pride March Ban Is Wrong Says, Euro-MP Cashman. Labour MEP Michael Cashman has reacted with anger at the decision by authorities in Latvia to ban this year’s Pride march which was scheduled for this Saturday (22nd July). (UK Gay News, July 20, 2006) Latvian President and Amnesty Both Condemn Restriction of LGBT Rights. The President of Latvia and Amnesty International (AI) have both issued statements this morning following yesterday’s decision by the Riga City Council to ban this weekend’s planned Gay Pride march in the capital. (UK Gay News, July 19, 2006) A Blow for Democracy: Riga Council Denies Permit for Gay Pride March. The Riga city council this morning denied a permit Saturday’s “Riga Pride 2006” march. The city council justified its decision by invoking threats of violence allegedly received from extremist groups – and the police’s inability to guarantee security and order during the march. (UK Gay News, July 19, 2006) Latvian Priest Strongly Supports Riga Gay Pride. An English translation of an interview with openly gay Maris Sants conducted by GayRussia website. (UK Gay News, July 17, 2006) Tension and Uncertainty Rising Around Second Gay Pride in Riga. Latvian interior minister Dzintars Jaundžeikars went on record last week that the Interior Ministry would not be able to provide adequate security during this year’s Pride March, scheduled to be held on Saturday (July 22). (UK Gay News, July 16, 2006) Prominent Foreign Politicians to Take Part in Riga Pride. Several European politicians will be taking part in Friendship Days and Riga Gay Pride, due to take place in the Latvian capital next week. (UK Gay News, July 16, 2006)
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Posted: 22 July 2006 at 21:00 (UK time) - Updated at 22:00