Razumovsky decided to take Rutenbergs to court. The plaintiff said that he recognized that Razumovsky had attacked him and tore his flag under the influence of emotion, and therefore demanded only that his attacker issue an apology and pay symbolic compensation for the flag.
Rutenbergs was initially charged with hooliganism and the intentional destruction or damage of property, charges which carry with them imprisonment for up to two years, community service, or a fine under Latvian law. The prosecutor decided instead to request compensation in the amount of 15 euros, along with 100 hours of community service.
As Baltic news hub Delfi explained, Rutenbergs's lawyer stressed that his client, witnessing the march as a casual passerby, was angered by "the use of the Russian symbol to violate the basic values of his government." Noting that Rutenbergs decided to act "in solidarity with his country, [and] wishing to express his civic democratic position," the lawyer stressed that the defendant had acted "impulsively, but in the spirit of the Constitution" in exercising his rights and performing his civic duties.
The full text of the decision will made public later this month, after which Razumovsky will have ten days to issue an appeal, a spokesperson for the court told local media Tuesday.
