Something Rotten in the State
Child Prostitution in Latvia
Latvia has had eight governments in the nine years since gaining independence from the Soviet Union. But the latest political crisis came against the background of allegations that senior politicians - including the former Prime Minister and former Justice Minister - had been involved in a paedophile ring. On April 12th the government collapsed over a financial scandal but these far more disturbing allegations remained unanswered. Latvia has a rapacious sex industry and an estimated 2,000 underage prostitutes - although politicians' guilt is hard to assess, it seems there's something rotten in the state of Latvia.
A Martin Adler report.
10.10.37.19 fair ground rides close ups
10.11.02.17 long shot fair ground
10.11.11.12 two blondes on street corner in dark
10.11.31.22 trams through street
10.11.40.20 piles of videotapes floppy discs and negatives
10.11.59.23 News programme, "Nedelas" nagala
10.12.22.19 political conference
10.12.41.19 interview with man accused with serious issues
10.13.18.10 interview with man from political conference
10.13.29.15 military brass band playing
10.13.36.10 Latvian flag being waved by monument
10.13.57.16 woman giving speech
10.14.05.21 woman being interviewed about freedom, democracy
10.14.50.05 car travelling through town with foreign voiceover
10.16.20.22 Old Building with carvings partially covered in sheets
10.16.28.04 political meeting male speaker
10.16.34.20 group of young adults in dark and murky bar
10.17.06.03 injured wrists like have been tied up and abused
10.17.49.19 smoke and steam rising through forest
10.17.58.07 family walking beach, woman talking to camera
10.18.57.08 Latvian political meeting
10.19.18.11 interview with young adult male
10.19.47.04 meeting involving some of the politician seen earlier
10.21.53.10 publicity meeting? Interview with spokes person discussing paedophilia
10.22.16.15 man playing cello in street
FULL SYNOPSIS
10.11.02.17 long shot fair ground
10.11.11.12 two blondes on street corner in dark
10.11.31.22 trams through street
10.11.40.20 piles of videotapes floppy discs and negatives
10.11.59.23 News programme, "Nedelas" nagala
10.12.22.19 political conference
10.12.41.19 interview with man accused with serious issues
10.13.18.10 interview with man from political conference
10.13.29.15 military brass band playing
10.13.36.10 Latvian flag being waved by monument
10.13.57.16 woman giving speech
10.14.05.21 woman being interviewed about freedom, democracy
10.14.50.05 car travelling through town with foreign voiceover
10.16.20.22 Old Building with carvings partially covered in sheets
10.16.28.04 political meeting male speaker
10.16.34.20 group of young adults in dark and murky bar
10.17.06.03 injured wrists like have been tied up and abused
10.17.49.19 smoke and steam rising through forest
10.17.58.07 family walking beach, woman talking to camera
10.18.57.08 Latvian political meeting
10.19.18.11 interview with young adult male
10.19.47.04 meeting involving some of the politician seen earlier
10.21.53.10 publicity meeting? Interview with spokes person discussing paedophilia
10.22.16.15 man playing cello in street