Estonian MEPs in trouble with Strasbourg police | News
There are different versions of what happened in Strasbourg. It has been suggested that an unseemly incident that required police prevention has occurred.
Riho Terras, who arrived in Tallinn via Frankfurt on Friday, told ERR at Tallinn airport the incident was due to him and Madison not being allowed into a nightclub due to the how they were dressed.
“I was not admitted because of my dress,” Terras said, but did not respond to what was specifically wrong with the way he was dressed.
Diplomatic sources suggest one of the MEPs insulted the bouncer at Strasbourg’s Live Club nightclub around 5am, while the other got into a scuffle with police after they arrived. Terras refuted the allegations.
“I called the police because of a misunderstanding. But it ended with no racial component to it.”
The MEP said the police arrived but overreacted. He did not specify.
“And that was the end. No one accused me of anything,” Terras told reporters.
He added that he had not been charged by the French police. He also confirmed that MEP Jaak Madison (EKRE) was with him. “But he will offer his own comments.”
Madison: There was no beating or racism of any kind
Speaking to ETV news “Aktuaalne kaamera” on Friday afternoon about the events of the early hours of Thursday morning, Madison said he decided to go out with his good friend Riho Terras and a Dutch colleague after a week of productive work.
Upon arriving at a bar or club-type establishment in downtown Strasbourg, an unnecessary exchange of remarks occurred between a local security guard and Terras concerning the latter’s clothing, he described. Apparently the question was whether it was appropriate for Terras to enter the entertainment establishment with the jacket he was wearing. Madison left Terras to argue with the security guard and entered the facility himself. When he later came out, he found that since the two sides hadn’t come to an agreement on who was right, Terras himself had called the police.
“The reports like the police were called on Riho or me are not true,” Madison confirmed. According to the EKRE MEP, however, the police who arrived at the scene were not the friendliest. Madison felt the police overreacted, believing the MEPs had done something wrong.
“As a viewer, I felt like if Riho called the police to resolve the situation or to act as a judge, so to speak, then the police that arrived had more of the attitude that Riho did. something wrong and guilty of something that we don’t know,” Madison explained regarding the alleged overreaction.
The argument reportedly lasted about 15 minutes, after which everyone involved went their separate ways. “We left, the police left, and that was it,” he said.
Asked by a reporter if the MEPs had been drinking alcohol, Madison replied: “Maybe a little. It was later in the night, but not excessively”.
Madison said he had no idea where the claims came from that one of the deputies used racist language about the entertainment establishment employee, as described in the press. He also denied the allegations of a fight with the police.
“Nobody hit a cop,” Madison said. “Just like no one said anything racist about anyone, no one hit anyone else either.”
As far as Madison is aware, no formal complaint has yet been filed regarding the incident.
PPA: We were not informed
The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) told ERR that French police had not informed their Estonian colleagues and had no obligation to do so.
“We are generally only notified when additional information is needed or when the parties to the proceedings request it,” the PPA spokesperson said.
Isamaa said on Thursday that MEP Riho Terras had refuted the claims attributed to him and called the allegations relating to the May 4 incident in Strasbourg as absurd.
The press release does not specify the nature of these allegations.
Riho Terras, colleagues and employees of the European Parliament were walking in the center of Strasbourg on Wednesday 4 May. The evening culminated in an incident which involved local police and where charges were brought against several MEPs, including Riho Terras,” the party statement.
“The accusations and allegations are completely baseless. A Dutch EU official who witnessed the incident confirmed this. I am sure law enforcement will find out the truth and we will have clarity” , said Terras via the press release. .
Isamaa promised to provide further clarifications should other circumstances come to light.
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