Amnesty
International criticizes antigay remarks by Latvian prime
minister

Amnesty International and Stockholm Pride organizers sent a letter to the Latvian embassy in Sweden on Monday protesting Latvian prime minister Aigars Kalvitis's antigay comments, which Amnesty official David Langlet called "extremely condescending and homophobic" in an interview with Agence France-Press.

In a televised interview, Kalvitis criticized Riga's first gay pride parade days before it was to take place. "For sexual minorities to parade in the very heart of Riga, next to the Doma church, is unacceptable," he said. "We cannot promote things like that."

Riga's city council banned the event shortly after Kalvitis's remarks, but a court overturned the ban, and the parade proceeded as planned.

"[Kalvitis's comments] trigger emotions among the public which justify violence, discrimination, and threats against homosexuals," said Langlet. "It is important that politicians...serve as examples. These are opinions that we cannot accept."

According to Langlet, Amnesty officials and Stockholm Pride organizers "were warmly received" on Monday by the first secretary of the Latvian embassy, and the talks were "constructive."

The joint statement from Amnesty and Pride said that it was "remarkable that a democratic country which recently became a member of the European Union has such narrow-minded and reactionary politicians." The two groups "remind the Latvian government of their international commitments on human rights" and insist that it not limit freedom of speech and assembly.