Criminal Case Against 16-year-old Offender Of Prince Charles Dismissed In Latvia

The Riga district prosecutor's office has dismissed a criminal case against Alina Lebedeva, a 16-year-old school girl from the Latvian town of Daugavpils, who near Freedom Memorial in Riga on November 8 tried to strike with three carnations the face of Prince Charles, the heir to the British throne who was in Latvia on an official visit. The "flower terrorist" explained her action by protest "against the war in Afghanistan and Latvia's entry into NATO". A criminal case was opened against Alina under the article, "Threat to the Health and Life of a Foreign Official". She could face a jail sentence of 15 years. But later the charge was re-categorised and the girl's action was qualified as "malicious hooliganism". Prince Charles himself came out in defence of the Daugavpils school girl. He described her offence as harmless. He appealed to Latvian authorities, asking not to subject the girl to judicial persecution. The dismissed case against Lebedeva was sent to the court of Riga's central district to "choose an educational means". In accordance with Latvian legislation, the court may oblige Alina undo the damage by her work.