“The police took action and dispersed the crowd, detaining 26 people who were brought to the Chief Police Commissariat,” Saulius Gagas, the head of the Vilnius County Police Commissariat, told LRT radio on Wednesday.
They were detained during a pre-trial investigation into the riots. According to police, the individuals intentionally violated public order, harmed officials.
“They all used illegal actions, damaged police vehicles, caused physical pain to the officers, and stoned the ambulance,” the chief of the commissioner said.
“I have to say that about 10 police officers, VST officers, have been affected at the moment,” he added.
However, according to Mr Gago, those numbers could be higher as some officials approached doctors in the morning after leaving the service.
Riot police at about 2 p.m. ended the night to disperse the protesters who had not withdrawn from the Seimas. They were evicted by officers with shields moving slowly forward and using tear gas.
About 5,000 people gathered at the Seimas in Vilnius on Tuesday to express their opposition to the government’s planned restrictions on people who do not have immunity to coronavirus and who are not tested.
After the sitting of the Seimas, some of the protesters blocked the exits from the parliamentary building and the exit from the inner courtyard of the Seimas. As the officers took them away from the building, riots broke out – bottles were thrown at the officers, flares were fired, and tear gas was used against the protesters.
Mr Gag confirmed that several pyrotechnic cartridges had been used and stressed that they had not been released by officials.
“I have to assure you that the police did not use grenades or anything else. It was explosives and pyrotechnic articles used by protesters and rioters, “he said.
According to him, two explosions took place, and later officers found unexploded firecrackers at the scene.
Public order was maintained by about 70 police officers.
About 9.30 p.m. An official working for the Seimas was presented to Vilnius Hospital, and she was later released for outpatient treatment.
A 34-year-old man was drawn up a protocol for a minor breach of public order – he was in conflict with the rallies and looked visually intoxicated.
Also, one 23-year-old was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs, he was detained.
–
It is not allowed to publish, quote or otherwise reproduce the information of the news agency BNS in mass media and websites without the written consent of UAB “BNS”.
