Latvian Police defend Krustkalni fire investigation amid legal challenges

The Latvian State Police have rejected allegations of an inadequate investigation regarding a fatal fire in Krustkalni village. The police stated that a criminal process was conducted under prosecutorial supervision, involving more than 25 interrogations and various technical and chemical expertises. On August 10, a decision was made to terminate the criminal process because no physical or legal person's responsibility could be established.

However, Karīna Landmesere, the lawyer representing the victims' family, has criticized the investigation, claiming several deficiencies. The fire resulted in the deaths of two children and injuries to a mother and another child. Landmesere noted that while the State Fire and Rescue Service had previously identified fire safety violations in the building, smoke detectors were not installed, only heat detectors that trigger at 68 degrees Celsius.

The lawyer also raised concerns regarding the investigation's quality, citing unnumbered case files, a lack of content indicators, and claims that investigators did not allow materials to be photographed. She further alleged that witnesses were not officially summoned and that the investigation failed to address the house's dilapidated condition. The decision to terminate the process has been appealed and is not yet legally binding.