VIDEO ⟩(16)

The Saeima supported the bill providing for Latvia's withdrawal from the convention in the first reading with 52 votes.

You can watch the protest live:

The video shows people preparing for the protest and then participating in it. Eyewitnesses reported that the crowd reached as far as the Dome Square. It was also reported that those gathered with posters called for"stop covering up the perpetrators" and not to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. The State Police confirmed that at least 3,000 residents gathered.

The picket participants, who are mostly younger, point out that"the opinion of populists is not the truth of the people."

Protesters are beating drums, shouting slogans, and calling on politicians to reconsider. Protesters are also asking whether this move is in support of Russia.

Protesters shout, for example,"by lobbying Russia, we are not defending Latvia." Those gathered also use phone flashlights and other lighting tools.

A significant number of law enforcement officers are monitoring the situation, and there is also a larger than usual number of law enforcement officers in Old Riga.

Protesters also sang the Latvian national anthem:

The picket participants point out that many European Union countries have called on Latvian parliamentarians to reconsider and not withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.

According to the"Marta" center, such a vote has caused outrage in part of society because it"threatens the progress made so far in the field of human rights and gender equality."

The "Marta" center emphasizes that the Saeima also supported the declaration "on non-tolerance of violence", which, in the organization's opinion, is presented as an alternative to the convention.

"Such a declaration does not replace an internationally recognized mechanism that ensures real monitoring, accountability, and international support in preventing violence. It only creates an apparent solution, while in reality it weakens protection against violence and reduces Latvia's credibility at the international level," emphasizes the center "Marta".

The organization believes that withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention would mean a retreat from the principles of democracy and human rights. The Marta Center points out that this sends a dangerous signal that the state is ready to turn a blind eye to violence and inequality.

"This initiative is also being used as a political tool to target transgender people and other vulnerable groups in society, creating the false impression that their rights are a threat to society. In fact, it is the inclusion and protection of these groups that strengthens democracy and common security," notes the "Marta" center.

The"Marta" Center calls on the Saeima to reject the bill on withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in the second reading and to affirm that Latvia remains committed to democracy, gender equality, and human rights.

The"Marta" Center is a public organization that, since 2001, has advocated for gender equality, the protection of women and children against violence, and also provides legal, psychological and social assistance to victims of violence.

Each year, the center assists more than 800 women and young people, while actively participating in policymaking, educational campaigns, and raising public awareness about human rights and security.

As reported, on October 23, the Saeima conceptually supported a bill on Latvia's withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, or the so-called Istanbul Convention, with the votes of the opposition and the Greens and Farmers' Union.

The bill was submitted by the opposition party"Latvia First" (LPV), but is also supported by other opposition parties - the National Alliance, the United List and"For Stability", as well as ZZS politicians in the ruling coalition. The coalition parties"New Unity" and "Progressives" do not support the withdrawal from the convention.

In the first reading, 52 deputies voted for withdrawal from the convention, no deputies voted against, deputy Didzis Šmits abstained from the vote, but deputies from the"New Unity" and "Progressives" chose not to participate in the vote at all.

Before the vote on the first reading, the majority of deputies decided to determine urgency for it, which means that it will be considered in only two readings. If the law has been adopted in the Saeima in two readings and urgency has been determined by at least two-thirds of the votes of the deputies, the President of the Republic cannot use the veto right to stop the promulgation of the law.

A total of 52 deputies from the opposition party and the coalition ZZS voted in favor of the urgency, 31 deputies from the"Progressive" and "New Unity" factions were against, while ZZS deputy Andris Bērziņš abstained from the vote. Thus, less than two-thirds of those present voted in favor of the urgency.

The draft law on withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention was submitted by the LPV. Initially, it did not even have an annotation or justification, which the LPV nevertheless provided within a couple of weeks.