2009 Riga riot

Riot in Riga, Latvia July 2022 2009 Riga Riot Tautas mitins 13.01.2009 02.jpg January 13, 2009 Riga, Latvia The 2008 Latvian financial crisis and government austerity policies. Dissolution of the Saeima by the President of Latvia, early elections. At least 302009-01-14 Anti-government riot hits Latvia https://euobserver.com/eu-political/27402 2023-10-12 EUobserver en 126 Public and private property. The 2009 Riga riot was an outbreak of civil unrest in Riga, Latvia, on January 13, 2009, lasting for three hours following the economic downturn of the 2008 Latvian financial crisis as well as political discontent with the Latvian government's continued pursuance of austerity policies. Around 10,000 people gathered for anti-government protests which eventually became violent. The riot was the worst outbreak of violence in Latvia since 1991 when Latvia declared independence from the Soviet Union.Untold Stories: Latvia Moves Leftward in Recent Elections http://pulitzercenter.typepad.com/untold_stories/2009/06/latvia-moves-leftward-in-local-elections.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090615091105/http://pulitzercenter.typepad.com/untold_stories/2009/06/latvia-moves-leftward-in-local-elections.html 2009-06-15 2009-11-092009-01-13 Latvian anti-government protest turns into riot Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-protest-idUSTRE50C7IF20090113 2022-04-13 Background Latvia, which had previously experienced economic growth, found itself grappling with the global economic downturn, depleting central bank reserves, and expectations of a 5% GDP contraction in its GDP for 2009. As salaries were projected to decrease and unemployment to rise, public frustration escalated, culminating in the protests.Barry Ellen 2009-01-14 Latvia Is Shaken by Riots Over Its Weak Economy en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/world/europe/15latvia.html 2023-10-12 0362-4331 Before the riot, the All for Latvia party organized a rally demanding that the President of Latvia dissolve the Saeima as well as call early elections.Visu Latvijai! http://www.visulatvijai.lv/news.php?readmore=1156318583 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090211131318/http://visulatvijai.lv/news.php?readmore=1156318583 2009-02-11 2010-11-23 Protesters were concerned mainly with the competence of their political administration, corruption and the economic downturn caused by the 2008 Latvian financial crisis. The financial crisis resulted in a recession and an unemployment crisis after Latvia had been the fastest growing economy in Europe for several consecutive years.Barry Ellen 2009-01-14 Latvia Is Shaken by Riots Over Its Weak Economy The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/world/europe/15latvia.html 2022-04-13 0362-4331 subscription These demonstrations were part of a wider trend in the region, with Greece and Bulgaria also experiencing unrest over similar issues like economic stagnation, poverty, corruption, and problems within the education system. Riot After the crowd had become violent, some attempted to storm the Saeima but were repulsed by riot police with Mace, truncheons and tear gas. After the failed attempt at storming the parliament, ice, rocks and other debris were thrown at government buildings as well as police. After the rioters had been dispersed by police they regrouped at Vecrīga where the smashing of windows as well as the looting of shops began.2009-01-14 Anti-government rioting hits Riga BBC News https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7827708.stm 2022-04-25 Aftermath Following the riot, 126 people were arrested and at least 30 injured, although these numbers are disputed. On February 20, the cabinet of prime minister Ivars Godmanis was dissolved and he resigned his position as head of the government.http://www.dziennik.pl/swiat/article324843/Kryzys_i_demonstracje_zmiotly_lotewski_rzad.html Kryzys i demonstracje zmiotły łotewski rząd Crisis and demonstrations wiped out the Latvian government Dziennik 20 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090605213947/http://www.dziennik.pl/swiat/article324843/Kryzys_i_demonstracje_zmiotly_lotewski_rzad.html 2009-06-05 pl Similar protests took place in Vilnius, Lithuania, three days after the protest in Riga, these protests also ending in similar riots.Juska Arunas Woolfson Charles 2012-05-01 Policing political protest in Lithuania http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-77459 Crime, Law and Social Change 57 4 403–424 10.1007/s10611-012-9363-4 254422263 1573-0751 The Social Democratic Party "Harmony" gained considerable popularity after the riots. See also 2008 Greek riots 2008 financial crisis Credit Crunch References Riga riot Riga riot Category:Political history of Latvia Category:2000s political riots Category:January 2009 in Europe