Police conclude riot probes

  • 2008-01-29
  • In cooperation with BNS
TALLINN -- The Northern prefecture of theEstonian police force has completed proceedings in all cases openedagainst participants in the April 2007 rioting by the middleof January, it has confirmed. The Eastern prefecture had finished itsinvestigations already, meaning that a line may now be drawn under the notorious affair.

The North prefecture launched 33 criminal cases on the basis of Penal Code articles dealing with committing anoffense during mass disorder, grave breach of public order,violence against a representative of state power andtheft.

During the street violence at the end of April 2007, a total of 426 persons were detained as suspects in Tallinn and the adjoining Harjumaa region.By mid-January, the cases against 266 persons had been closedwithout bringing charges and 156 cases had been forwarded tothe regional prosecutor's office for a decision.

Data from the Viru regional prosecutor's office show that40 criminal cases were opened in connection with thedisturbances in the northeastern part of the country, of which 19 were in the town of Johvi, 6 each in Narva, Sillamae andKohtla-Jarve, 2 in Kivioli and 1 in the Vaivararural municipality. The Penal Code articles on which theproceedings were based cover offenses such as grave breachof public order, holding an unauthorized public meeting,illegal entry, resistance to law officers, illegal handlingof explosives, and others.

To date, sentences in 19 Virumaa cases have come intoforce. Sixteen proceedings were closed without pressingcharges and four cases are still in court. One file is atthe prosecutor's office waiting to be forwarded to court.