Alūksne resident asks Prosecutor General's Office to probe alleged police inaction after attack

A resident of the Latvian town of Alūksne, Elita Loča, has turned to the Prosecutor General's Office, asking that it investigate possible inaction by State Police (VP) officials in connection with an attack she suffered in 2020.

The case surrounding the attack already went through court proceedings, during which the court issued not only its main ruling but also a separate accompanying decision. Such decisions are typically issued when a court identifies shortcomings or possible violations by other institutions connected to the case being heard — in this instance, concerning how State Police officials had acted.

Complaint to the Prosecutor General

Loča now believes that the alleged inaction of police officials tied to the attack should also be reviewed by prosecutors, and has therefore submitted a formal request to the Prosecutor General's Office. The aim of the complaint is to determine whether police officials fulfilled their duties at the time, both in investigating and in responding to the attack against her.

It is not yet known what decision will be reached or how long the Prosecutor General's Office will take to review the request. The case illustrates a situation in which a victim, after years of litigation, continues seeking accountability from institutions that were expected to respond to a criminal act at the time it occurred.