The scandal erupted after the publication on social media by a well-known Latvian theater and film actor and entrepreneur Ivars Auziņš. He recounted a story about how his acquaintance defended a Latvian girl from harassment by a Pakistani citizen in a Tallinn neighborhood in Riga. According to Auziņš, after the young man's intervention, about 30 Pakistanis approached the scene and attacked the girl's defender. He also stated that 'thousands and thousands' of migrants from Pakistan have been brought to Latvia, mentioning that they have filled the beach in Vecāki. The actor described the situation as part of a 'hybrid war.' The publication quickly drew a response from Riga's Deputy Mayor Edvards Ratnieks. He wrote: 'Thank you for the information! Passed on to the police! These monkeys need to be deported!' It was this last phrase that provoked the most intense reaction in society. A lively discussion unfolded under the post. Some users supported the politician's position, believing he reacted harshly but justly to a potential attack. Some noted that the actions of a group of 30 against one indeed resemble 'monkey behavior,' while others wrote that Latvians would soon have to arm themselves to protect their women and children. However, many sharply condemned the Deputy Mayor's words. Users reminded that a public official is obliged to maintain decorum in public statements. Some called Ratnieks a racist, while others compared his rhetoric to far-right slogans. Questions were also raised about whether the leadership of the Riga City Council considers such language acceptable for an official. Critics also pointed out that the issue of violence cannot be substituted with insults. Ratnieks' statement received widespread resonance and also attracted the attention of Latvian media. Later, the Deputy Mayor issued an extensive statement. According to him, no public pressure from migration supporters will force him to change his position. He stated that closing the 'gates' to immigration from third countries is necessary so that Latvia does not face problems that, in his opinion, exist in major cities in the UK, France, Sweden, Spain, Italy, and other Western European countries. Ratnieks emphasized that he is not ashamed of his comment and posed a rhetorical question about how else to describe men who attempt to harass women or attack them, as well as a crowd that assaults a person who stands up for a girl. The politician reported that immediately after the publication, he contacted the author of the message Ivars Auziņš by phone and confirmed that the situation he described indeed took place. He also thanked the young man who intervened in the conflict and, according to Ratnieks, prevented further escalation. Furthermore, the Deputy Mayor expressed bewilderment that some media outlets, in his opinion, are trying to question the very fact of the incident simply because it did not end with serious consequences confirmed by medical documents. In Ratnieks' opinion, some politicians and public figures place their own ideology above the safety of the country's residents. He acknowledged that he used a crude word, but believes he did so 'at the right moment.' The politician also stated that instead of discussing the growing threats related to immigration, the media focused on his wording.
