Military Russophobic hysteria that systematically frighten the Latvian authorities had sooner or later to spill over into some excess. And here kurtosis happened.
August 28, dozens of airsofters gathered in Ozolnieki County, about 30 km from Riga, to play their favorite game. Arrived four teams. The game scenario it was assumed that part of the playing simulates a military, NATO, part — Russian. No political significance is, the Latvian airsoft community generally eschews politics. The military form necessary for the identification of participants during the game.
Players barely had time to gather for the General construction, on ground with included sound sirens flew black pickups, which landed soldiers of the security Police. The airsofters threw noise grenades, and then laid on the ground face down, hands behind his head. Attempts to explain — we are not saboteurs, and airsoft players — rigidly suppressed with the help of Taser and kicks in the ribs. All blindfolded.
After a while came a group of interrogators, and interrogations. Says one of the airsofters (conditional “NATO members”, by the way):
“I was interrogated four people. I saw four pairs of legs when I unleashed the eyes that I could show the phone a copy of your passport… Told me to call the name, surname, date of birth and phone number. Did not like that I say quietly, gave the discharge a Taser. My native language is Russian. In such a stressful situation became confused words and to say something in English, something in Russian. Got again the discharge current.
Asked: what is the language of the state? For any answers in Russian — blow shock!The issues were that they already knew the answers — what we’re doing here, who is the captain of the team, how to train? Said we do not train, and play at your pleasure. The answer is not much. Given the discharge current. When this hit his head on the concrete floor. Thank God there were no concussion.
In the end staged a demonstration beating a captain of a team. All were told to listen carefully to and remember! Began to say that we are a gang that wants to undermine the independence of Latvia. I want to get the same thing in Ukraine. And if we again decide to play (especially those who play in the Russian form), they will come again.”
Version of the security Police is. Allegedly received information from local residents, who took players in airsoft for infiltrated into the Latvian territory of the Russian military. Supposedly misled the Russian form. Police quickly arrived on the scene, and all figured out.
This is an absurd explanation dutifully reproduced most of the media, both in Latvian and Russian. Although its falsity is obvious. First, the players were gathered on this site many times, sometimes the police came, checked documents, and that’s limited. Second, the BOP staff arrived on the “operation” without a firearm, then understand that they were going to “take” of airsofters, not armed saboteurs. Thirdly, why the interrogation and torture if it became immediately clear that the error occurred?
I believe it was a training exercise. The airsofters have worked with a group of soldiers capture the enemy, followed hard by interrogation of prisoners.
The political meaning of the operation — bullying. All who are looking forward in the direction of Russia, should understand: it will be beaten. Not metaphorically, but literally, physically. In humans, as the animal, produce reflex: support Russia and get a foot in the ribs or electrical shock.
This is a very significant incident. In the 1990s and until the mid-2000s, PB, practiced physical violence. Selectively, but practiced. Then these methods disappeared. Now they are back. We check for the “weak”, and if we can’t fight back, the score and trampled. We have in mind not only social activists, but all of whom authorities suspected of Pro-Russian sentiment.
It is important that the victims made a criminal case. In this case it’s really because of such brutal methods have not yet become routine, and law enforcement agencies will be difficult to dismiss. There are a bunch of articles of the criminal law: torture, bodily injury (several airsofters immediately called for the doctor recorded injuries), abuse of power. Important to have enough strength of spirit from the victims themselves.
Everything is very serious. I see no reason for jokes-jokes. Those last heroics on the range tomorrow with the same zeal will escort them to a concentration camp. In any case, they dream about it.
Vladimir Linderman
