Original article (in Albanian) was published on 19/05/2026; Author: Patris Pustina
On social media, including Albanian-language platforms, a video is circulating showing two police officers speaking with a woman. The video is shared alongside claims that the police stopped her after confusing the colors of her bag with the Russian flag.
Although the video is authentic, the claim shared alongside it is false.
Contacted by Faktoje, Simona Gravite, Head of Public Relations at the Latvian State Police, clarified that the incident occurred on 9 May 2026 in the city of Salaspils.
On 9 May, Russia marks Victory Day, commemorating the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
On 9 May this year, Gravite stated that the Latvian State Police carried out enhanced operations across the country to prevent violations related to the “glorification of military aggression and war crimes.” Special attention was therefore given to memorial sites and areas where gatherings were possible.
Regarding the incident in question, Gravite said that “the police also paid attention to individuals who had arrived at the specific location to clarify the circumstances and establish their identity. In this case, the person’s identification documents were checked, no violations were found, and no fines were issued.”
According to the Latvian police, the woman in the video was stopped for identity verification, not because her bag was mistaken for the Russian flag.
