Police start three criminal procedures for damaging Ukrainian cars

RIGA - The State Police have started three criminal procedures on damaging Ukrainian cars in Latvia, State Police chief Armands Ruks said in an interview with the Latvian public television.

He said that more than 1,000 signals have been received about possible aggression in relation to Russia's war in Ukraine.

"In about 30 cases we have started probes, there are eight criminal procedures and about 30 administrative procedures - mostly on petty hooliganism," he said.

"I would not say that it is massive aggression against Ukrainian refugees, the society maybe exaggerates on social networks sometimes. There are three cases when cars of Ukrainians have been damaged, three criminal procedures have been launched. In four cases Ukrainian flags have been stolen or burnt," he said.

The State Police are also investigating one case of rape. A man, born in 1955, attempted to rape a refugee who was living with him for about a week, both persons were remotely related.

Interior Minister Marija Golubeva (For Development) told the press in Daugavpils on Wednesday that there has been no widespread aggression in relation to Russia's war in Ukraine. There have been just separate cases of aggression.

"I think that it is important to understand that the Latvian society is stable and people are not aggressive. Of course, there is aggression on the internet, but we are fighting it," the minister said.