2009 Riga riot
Encyclopedia
2009 Riga riot was a civil unrest in Riga
, Latvia
on January 13, 2009.
The opposition and trade unions organized a rally
requesting dissolution of the parliament. The rally gathered some 10-20 thousand people.
In the evening the peaceful rally turned into a riot
. Fifty people were injured and 100 arrested for overturning police cars and looting stores. The crowd moved to the building of the parliament and attempted to force into it, but was repelled.
On February 20, the cabinet of Godmanis
was dissolved and Godmanis stepped off his position as the head of the government. Since Riga Riot, Latvia has since seen four more massive protests.
Riga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
, Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
on January 13, 2009.
The opposition and trade unions organized a rally
Demonstration (people)
A demonstration or street protest is action by a mass group or collection of groups of people in favor of a political or other cause; it normally consists of walking in a mass march formation and either beginning with or meeting at a designated endpoint, or rally, to hear speakers.Actions such as...
requesting dissolution of the parliament. The rally gathered some 10-20 thousand people.
In the evening the peaceful rally turned into a riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
. Fifty people were injured and 100 arrested for overturning police cars and looting stores. The crowd moved to the building of the parliament and attempted to force into it, but was repelled.
On February 20, the cabinet of Godmanis
Ivars Godmanis
Ivars Godmanis is a Latvian politician and currently 1 of the 8 Latvian MEPs in the European parliament. He was the first Prime Minister of Latvia after the country became independent from the Soviet Union, and he became a Prime Minister for the second time in December 2007.Godmanis served as...
was dissolved and Godmanis stepped off his position as the head of the government. Since Riga Riot, Latvia has since seen four more massive protests.