imported>Jovensward: Open access status updates in citations with OAbot #oabot

2025-06-02T01:39:16Z

Open access status updates in citations with OAbot #oabot

New page

{{Short description|Riot in Riga, Latvia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}

{{Infobox civil conflict| title = 2009 Riga Riot
| image = Tautas mitins 13.01.2009 02.jpg
| date = January 13, 2009
| place = [[Riga]], [[Latvia]]
| causes = The [[2008 Latvian financial crisis]] and government [[austerity]] policies.
| goals = Dissolution of the [[Saeima]] by the [[President of Latvia]], [[snap election|early elections]].
| injuries = At least 30<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-14 |title=Anti-government riot hits Latvia |url=https://euobserver.com/eu-political/27402 |access-date=2023-10-12 |website=EUobserver |language=en}}</ref>
| arrests = 126
| damage = 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 [[On the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia|declared independence]] from the [[Soviet Union]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Untold Stories: Latvia Moves Leftward in Recent Elections |url=http://pulitzercenter.typepad.com/untold_stories/2009/06/latvia-moves-leftward-in-local-elections.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090615091105/http://pulitzercenter.typepad.com/untold_stories/2009/06/latvia-moves-leftward-in-local-elections.html |archive-date=2009-06-15 |access-date=2009-11-09}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2009-01-13 |title=Latvian anti-government protest turns into riot |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-latvia-protest-idUSTRE50C7IF20090113 |access-date=2022-04-13}}</ref>

== Background ==
Latvia, which had previously experienced economic growth, found itself grappling with the [[Great Recession|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.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Ellen |date=2009-01-14 |title=Latvia Is Shaken by Riots Over Its Weak Economy |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/world/europe/15latvia.html |access-date=2023-10-12 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Before the riot, the [[All for Latvia!|All for Latvia]] party organized a [[Political demonstration|rally]] demanding that the [[President of Latvia]] dissolve the [[Saeima]] as well as call [[Snap election|early elections]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visu Latvijai! |url=http://www.visulatvijai.lv/news.php?readmore=1156318583 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211131318/http://visulatvijai.lv/news.php?readmore=1156318583 |archive-date=2009-02-11 |access-date=2010-11-23}}</ref> 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Barry |first=Ellen |date=2009-01-14 |title=Latvia Is Shaken by Riots Over Its Weak Economy |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/world/europe/15latvia.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |issn=0362-4331|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":4" />

== Riot ==
After the crowd had become violent, some attempted to storm the Saeima but were repulsed by riot police with [[Mace (spray)|Mace]], [[Baton (law enforcement)|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.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=2009-01-14 |title=Anti-government rioting hits Riga|work=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7827708.stm |access-date=2022-04-25}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Following the riot, 126 people were arrested and at least 30 injured, although these numbers are disputed.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> On February 20, the [[Second Godmanis cabinet|cabinet]] of prime minister [[Ivars Godmanis]] was dissolved and he resigned his position as head of the government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dziennik.pl/swiat/article324843/Kryzys_i_demonstracje_zmiotly_lotewski_rzad.html |title=Kryzys i demonstracje zmiotły łotewski rząd|trans-title=Crisis and demonstrations wiped out the Latvian government|work=Dziennik|date=20 February 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605213947/http://www.dziennik.pl/swiat/article324843/Kryzys_i_demonstracje_zmiotly_lotewski_rzad.html|archivedate=2009-06-05|language=pl}}</ref> Similar protests took place in [[Vilnius]], [[Lithuania]], three days after the protest in Riga, these protests also ending in similar riots.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Juska |first1=Arunas |last2=Woolfson |first2=Charles |date=2012-05-01 |title=Policing political protest in Lithuania |url=http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-77459 |journal=Crime, Law and Social Change |volume=57 |issue=4 |pages=403–424 |doi=10.1007/s10611-012-9363-4 |s2cid=254422263 |issn=1573-0751|url-access=}}</ref>

The [[Social Democratic Party "Harmony"]] gained considerable popularity after the riots.<ref name=":0" />

==See also==
* [[2008 Greek riots]]
* [[2008 financial crisis]]
* [[Credit Crunch]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:2009 Riga Riot}}
[[Category:2009 in Latvia|Riga riot]]
[[Category:2009 riots|Riga riot]]
[[Category:Political history of Latvia]]
[[Category:2000s political riots]]
[[Category:January 2009 in Europe]]

2009 Riga riot - Revision history

imported>Jovensward: Open access status updates in citations with OAbot #oabot