R 141304Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIGA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 5539

UNCLAS RIGA 000028 
 
 
UNCLASSIFIED 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP EUR, DS/IP/ITA, DS/DSS/ICI, 
DS/DSS/OSAC, POSTS FOR RSO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC AMGT APER
 
SUBJECT:  RIGA 2008 ANNUAL OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY COUNCIL (OSAC) 
CRIME AND SAFETY REPORT 
 
REF: A) 08 STATE 132056 
 
 
¶1. Overall Crime/Safety Situation:  Latvia continues to be a 
relatively safe country, compared to a U.S. city of similar size. 
Crimes of opportunity, including pickpockets, theft from 
automobiles, and some residential thefts mainly occur in the larger 
cities with the majority of occurrences in Riga.  Violent crime is 
still present, including assaults and in some extreme cases 
homicide.  Other violent assaults have involved young intoxicated 
males in public parks or in the Old Town.  In addition, an illicit 
drug culture is growing, resulting in increased theft crimes to 
support the drug habit. The organized crime community remains 
active, with operations expanding into credit card fraud, bank card 
fraud and extortion.   As the main city Riga becomes more of a 
tourist destination, the frequency of crimes targeting foreigners 
has multiplied. 
 
¶A. Crime Threats:  Riga experienced an alarming trend involving the 
defrauding and extortion of foreign visitors during 2008.  The U.S. 
Embassy issued two separate Warden Notices warning of these threats 
and publishing a list of establishments known for extortionate and 
sometimes violent practices.  The physical intimidation of foreign 
visitors, the large sums of money being extorted and the perceived 
police acquiescence of the crimes resulted in high level meetings 
with senior members of Latvian government and the Diplomatic Corps. 
Incidents have continued to occur through December 2008 with little 
improvement.  Visitors to Latvia generally experience a safe and 
secure country, and many of the reported crimes could have easily 
been avoided using common sense practices.  The city of Riga is 
filled with public parks and a boisterous Old Town center.  At 
night, these areas can become dangerous, replete with thieves and 
intoxicated groups of people.  Of the reported crimes against 
Americans and other foreign visitors, many have occurred in 
dimly-lit parks or outside of clubs late at night; however, there 
have been assaults and menacing behavior in broad daylight.  In 
addition, criminals prey on intoxicated victims.  In some instances, 
victims have been drugged while at bars and nightclubs and then 
robbed.  Bank card/ATM fraud has also been reported to the U.S. 
Embassy.  It recommended that foreign visitors use clearly marked 
cab companies such as Riga Taxi or Riga Taxi Park. 
 
¶B. Road Condition and Safety Concerns:  Major highways in Latvia are 
in a generally good state of repair; however conditions frequently 
change due to the weather.  Secondary roads can be treacherous, 
poorly lit, and without proper signage.  Caution is advised at all 
times, as pedestrians and unsafe drivers are numerous along the 
roads.  Latvia has one of the highest accident rates in all of 
Europe. 
 
¶2.  Political Violence 
 
¶A.  Histrical Perspective:  The threat of political violence in 
Latvia is extremely rare; however there has been more activity in 
recent years due to an economic downturn and allegations of 
corruption in the government.  Demonstrations do occur, the majority 
of which target the government.  In November 2007, over 7,000 people 
assembled to protest alleged corruption in the parliament.  The 
group broke out in song and no untoward incidents occurred.  In an 
unusual occurrence in the first month of 2009, a demonstration 
organized in the Old Town of Riga numbering around 10,000 resulted 
in violent protest.  When the rally finished, about 1,000 people 
tried to storm the parliament building, resulting in damages to 
buildings and police vehicles, as well as numerous arrests and 
injuries. U.S. Embassy Riga has not been specifically targeted for 
demonstration or protest and only is tangentially affected by other 
protests aimed at government buildings or other foreign missions 
which share the same street.  Anti-American sentiment is minimal. 
 
¶B.  Regional Terrorism and organized crime:  No known indigenous 
terrorist organizations are present in Latvia.  Organized crime is a 
growing concern.  Groups are active in narcotics and prostitution, 
among other illicit enterprises.  In the past few years there have 
been targeted killings of alleged members of organized crime groups. 
 Collateral casualties have not been reported. 
 
¶C.  International Terrorism or Transnational Terrorism:  With 
Latvia's recent inclusion in the Schengen regime, the ease with 
which an international terrorist group could enter Latvia has 
increased; however, the threat is consistent with most of the rest 
of Western Europe.  Latvia's vigorous support of coalition efforts 
in the Middle East and South Asia give it a higher profile and the 
increased vulnerability of attracting the attention of international 
terrorist groups. 
 
¶D.  Civil Unrest:  There have been no significant incidents of civil 
unrest in recent history. 
 
¶3.  Post Specific Concerns 
 
 
¶A.  Earthquakes and Floods:  N/A 
 
¶B.  Industrial and Transportation Accidents:  No significant 
industrial accidents have occurred; however the Ignalina Nuclear 
Plant, leftover from the Soviet era and located just across the 
Lithuanian border 150 km from Riga, would significantly impact the 
city in the event of a meltdown.  It contains reactors similar to 
those of the Chernobyl plant.  It is scheduled to be dismantled in 
2009 as part of EU regulation. 
 
¶C.  Kidnappings:  There have been no incidents of targeted 
kidnappings of any individuals in Latvia. 
 
¶D.  Drugs and Narcoterrorism:  The illicit drug trade has become 
more robust in the past few years, with entry points on the sea and 
through land border crossings.  Latvian border agencies have made 
some considerable headway, but the amount entering and/or transiting 
to Russia is estimated to be growing.  Cocaine, heroine and 
synthetic drugs are the most frequently seized drugs.  Drug cartels 
routinely use Baltic banks for money laundering operations.  Latvia 
officials are working closely with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency 
on curbing the flow of illegal narcotics into and through Latvia. 
 
¶4.  Police Response:  Latvia's police force has been making strides 
to improve in a variety of areas.  Senior Latvian officers have 
taken advantage of training opportunities abroad in areas of 
community policing and racial sensitivity.  Municipal police 
officers are becoming more high-profile and prolific throughout the 
public parks and in the Old Town.  Education at the patrol level 
still remains problematic.  Notifications to diplomatic entities 
when their respective citizens have been arrested continue to be 
neglected by the police.  There have also been serious allegations 
of corruption on a small and in some cases, a larger scale. The 
Corruption Prevention Bureau has aggressively prosecuted those who 
are involved in bribery or other corruption schemes.   Specific 
incidences of non-responsiveness by the police to assault or racial 
harassment cases continue to be reported to the Embassy. 
 
¶A.  How to Handle Incidents of Police Detention or Harassment: 
While unlikely, in the event that a foreigner is detained or 
harassed by the police, the individual should comply with police 
instructions.  However, a request for an interpreter and the 
individual's respective embassy should be made immediately. 
 
¶B. Where to Turn for Assistance If One Becomes a Victim of a Crime: 
For any emergency, one should dial "112".  The police can be 
directly dialed at "02".   English speaking operators are available 
at those numbers.  If an American is detained, he or she should 
contact the U.S. Embassy in Riga at the 24-hour number: 
+371-6703-6200. 
 
¶5.  Medical Emergencies:  How to Get Medical Assistance in an 
Emergency 
 
¶A.  For medical emergencies, one can dial "112" or "03" for a 
medical professional directly.  While medical facilities are 
improving, recent negative experiences by U.S. staff have indicated 
that more resources are needed to improve health care in Latvia. 
Foreigners are advised to maintain private health insurance and 
medivac insurance as well. 
 
¶B.  Air Ambulance Services:  Latvia maintains one facility with a 
helicopter for catastrophic emergencies.  It is called the Centre of 
Emergency and Disaster Medicine and can be reached by phone at 
+371-761-5534. 
 
¶6.  Travel Precautions:  Tips on How to Avoid Becoming a Victim 
 
¶A.  As mentioned above, common sense should dictate a foreigner's 
time in Latvia.  Avoid dimly-lit parks and streets at night.  If 
possible, travel in a group.  Stay alert when navigating the streets 
as a pedestrian or a driver.  It is a good idea to secure all 
valuables in the home, in the car and on the person.  Vehicles 
should be parked in well-lit or visible areas. 
 
¶B.  Crimes/Scams unique to Latvia:  Identity theft is reportedly on 
the rise in Latvia.  It is advisable to remain cautious when using 
ATM's on the street, as well as maintaining all credit card 
receipts.  Care should be taken when using bank machines (ATM's), 
especially in Old Town.  Avoid dimly lit or remote locations when 
using the machines. 
 
In many of the night clubs, there is a scam where a foreigner will 
buy a drink and then be presented with an exorbitant bill based on a 
separate menu.  He or she will then be detained until the bill is 
paid, sometimes through physical intimidation.  Although calling the 
police is encouraged, they seldom intervene in these disputes.  It 
is best to avoid these places or else agree to the price before 
ordering.  Racially motivated and alternative lifestyle harassment 
and assaults have occurred within the last year and continue to be 
of great concern to U.S. Embassy Riga.  Crimes of this nature should 
be immediately reported to the foreign visitor's embassy and the 
police. 
 
¶C.  Areas to Avoid/Best Security Practices:  The area immediately to 
the east of the train station, the so-called "Moscow" section of 
town, is to be avoided.  Much of the drug activity takes place there 
even in the daytime.  The market area and the Old Town are popular 
with pickpockets.  Care should be taken with regard to wallets and 
purses in those areas.  Merkala Street, between Barona and Caka 
streets across from the train station, should be avoided due to a 
variety of illicit activities. 
 
¶7.  Further Information:  How to Contact the Embassy 
 
The Regional Security Office at the U.S. Embassy in Riga can be 
reached at +371-6703-6214.  For any other concerns, including 
American Citizen Services, contact the 24-hour main number at 
+371-6703-6200.  Other information about Embassy Riga can be found 
by visiting our website at www.usembassy.lv/. 
 
¶8.  OSAC Country Council:  Contact the Jerry Worth at the American 
Chamber of Commerce at +371 721 2204 or by email at 
amcham@amcham.lv.  For further information, consult the American 
Chamber of Commerce in Latvia website at http://www.amcham.lv/. 
 
¶9.  U.S. Companies are encouraged to contact Regional Security 
Officer Jeff Lefler for any security related matters at 
+371-6703-6214 or by email at LeflerJS@state.gov. 
 
LARSON