The petition
A petition for the immediate liberation of the four Iberians who are unjustly accused of the profanation of the Latvian flag.
Background breifing:
On the past 16th of May, a group of five Portugese and two Spanish students; Miguel, Eden, Nuno, João, Paulo, Gonçalo and Guilherme; who were visiting Riga (Latvia), detached some Latvian flags that were decorating the banks of the river Daugava. That same night they were arrested, assaulted by the police and encarcerated under inhumane conditions. For days they were deprived of communication with the exterior and of access to interpretors. Until today, the families of the Portugese prisoners have not been able to talk directly to them.
This last Monday 28th of May three of the Portugese who HAD NOT participated in the retreival of the flags were released. Yesterday, on the 31st of May one of the Spanish detainees was set free on bail but is not allowed to leave the country. During the process a series of irregularities were committed, such as the absence of an interpretor, among others.
Since the beginning, there were great repercussions in the news through local media presenting distorted and slanted versions of the incident, creating an unfavourable image of Portugal and Spain in the public opinion.
There is an instance that seeks to make a case of simple theft into a judgement of crime against the State of Latvia and until today two Portugese and one Spanish as still prisoners, facing an accusation of robbery and profanation of the flag, risking a sentence of up to six years of prison.
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