Latvian tourists who were sexually assaulted in Paris did not seek consular assistance

RIGA - Latvian female tourists who were sexually assaulted in Paris, France, have not contacted the Latvian Embassy and asked for consular assistance.

According to the Foreign Ministry's press secretary Diana Eglite, following reports of the assault, the embassy contacted the police of the 7th arrondissement of Paris, who are responsible for the specific case, and asked the women to contact the embassy if they needed assistance.

The Foreign Ministry indicated that, according to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, a victim has the right not to inform his/her country of nationality or relatives about what has happened abroad.

"In the light of several recent attacks on vulnerable women, including at night in the vicinity of the Centre Pompidou and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Embassy urges women to be particularly vigilant in Paris at night," Eglite stressed.

Remix News & Views reported that on Saturday evening, October 5, a group of seven men sexually assaulted two Latvian tourists in Paris, on the Place de la Mars, near the Eiffel Tower.

Police arrested four of the men at the scene, two of whom were Algerians and the other two Egyptians. Three other suspects fled.

The victims initially intended to file a complaint, but the trauma and shock of the attack changed their minds. Nevertheless, the investigation into the incident will continue, the media outlet said.