State Department cable relating a request from Latvian Parliamentarians requesting the release of Latvian student from prison in Iraq. The Latvians claim that the gentleman was arrested on suspicion of being a "potential foreign mercenary" and is being held in custody at Buchbucraland prison. The Latvians point out that Lativan soldiers are serving in Iraq as part of the multi-national forces in Iraq, and as such is the case they are requesting that the gentleman’s case be reviewed and he be returned to Latvia for its law enforcement to handle the gentleman's case.
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«» RELEASED IN PART
B7(C)
ACTION EUR-00
CA-01 SRPP-00
DS-00 UTED-00 VC-00 TEDE-00 INR-00
INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00
EB-00 H-00
10-00 L-00 M-00 NSAE-00
LAB-01 VCE-00 NEA-00
PA-00 PM-00 D-00 SSO-00
PER-00 P-00 SP-00
SS-00 PMB-O0 DRL-00
TEST-00 R-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00
G-00 SWCI-00
NFAT-0O SAS-00 /002W
C1E448 141434Z /38 0 141426Z NOV 03 FM AMEMBASSY RIGA TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9851 USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL IMMEDIATE INFO HQ COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTH BAGHDAD PRIORITY SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS RIGA 001399
DEPT FOR EUR/NB (GERMANO)
E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL, IZ, LG SUBJECT: LATVIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS WANT IMPRISONED STUDENT SENT HOME FROM IRAQ
REFS: A) RIGA 1386, B) RIGA 1381
1. AMBASSADOR ON NOVEMBER 14 RECEIVED A LETTER FROM 13
LATVIAN PARLIAMENTARIANS REQUESTING THAT LATVIAN
STUDENT IBE RELEASED FROM PRISON IN IRAQ
B7(C) AND "DELTEDu TO LATVIA. MOST OF THE MPS BELONG TO THE FARMERS' AND GREENS' PARTY, A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING COALITION. WE PASS ALONG THE TEXT OF THE LETTER FOR THE LIGHT IT SHEDS ON SENTIMENTS IN PARLIAMENT ABOUT THE DETAINEE'S SITUATION.
2. BEGIN TEXT.
13 NOVEMBER 2003
H.E. BRIAN CARLSON
U.S. AMBASSADOR
ON THE LATVIAN CITIZEN DETAINED IN
IRAQ.
Current Class: UNCLASSIFIED Page: 1
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY: SHARON E AHMAD
DATE/CASE ID: 17 NOV 2004 200303827 DOS-002552
UNCLASSIFIED
•
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Document Number: 2003RIGA01399 Channel: n/a
THE LATVIAN PRESS HAS PUBLISHED INFORMATION THAT A
LATVIAN CITIZEN,\
BEING HELD IN
CUSTODY IN THE U.S.-CONTROLLED ZONE IN IRAQ. ACCORDING
TO HE HAS LEFT FOR THE
MI
IN A LETTER TO HIS
RELATIVES THAT HE HAS BEEN
DETAINED AS A "POTENTiAL OREIGN MERCENARY" AND THAT HE
IS BEING HELD IN CUSTODY IN THE BUCABUCRALAND PRISON.
IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT LATVIAN SOLDIERS ARE SERVING
IN IRAQ AS PART OF THE COALITION TROOPS AND ARE
DEFENDING THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRACY IN IRAQ AND IN
VIEW OF THE FACT THAT LATVIA CONDEMNS ANY
MANIFESTATIONS OF DICTATORSHIP, WE DEEM
PRESENCE IN THE IRAQI PRISON A TRAGIC
MISUNDERSTANDING. WE KINDLY REQUEST THAT OUR CURIOUS
CITIZEN' IBE RELEASED AND DEPORTED TO
LATVIA AND HANDED OVER TO THE LATVIAN LAW-ENFORCEMENT
INSTITUTIONS UNTIL THE REASONS FOR HIS PRESENCE IN IRAQ
ARE CLARIFIED.
PLEASE INFORM THE.SAEIMA (NOTE: PARLIAMENT) OF THE
REPUBLIC OF LATVIA ABOUT THE LEGAL JUSTIFICATION FOR
'DETENTION AND ALLOW HIM TO CONTACT HIS
SINCERELY,
MEMBERS OF THE ZZS FACTION:
(SIGNED)
END TEXT.
CARLSON
NNNN
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DOS-002553
UNCLASSIFIED