The Latvian State Police has started a criminal investigation following a homophobic incident at the Anglican Church of Riga last Sunday.

Every Sunday evening this Riga’s Church gathers members of the Open Evangelical Congregation lead by Maris Sants. Maris Sants is a former priest of the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church (LELC) excommunicated by the LELC right after he publicly admitted he was gay. Following his excommunication from the LELC he organised an Open Evangelical Congregation which is open to all Christians regardless of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. The Congregation’s services are being held at the Anglican Church of Riga. Last July the Church hosted a service during the first LGBT Pride March in the Latvian capital. Following this service and support to LGBT people, another priest, Juris Calitis, was excommunicated by the LELC but still holds his position within the Anglican Church.

Yesterday, on 9 April 2006, two drunken skinhead men entered the Anglican Church during the Open Evangelical Congregation’s service and hindered the service. Following the requests by the congregation not to disturb the service and leave the Church, the two skinheads attacked one of the congregation’s members. Maris Sants said that the injuries were not serious. The two skinheads were shouting abusive and homophobic remarks. The members of the congregations immediately called the police. The parish board said this is not the first incident of disturbance during their service and they believe the radical organisations are responsible for this and previous incidents.