Teacher dies after brawl at Priekule festival; policeman jailed

A memorial corner has been set up at the Liepāja Art, Music and Design Secondary School for teacher Normunds Vamzis. The 59-year-old educator died after an altercation at an open-air dance party during Priekule's Ikara festival, when 24-year-old police officer Andis Silnieks punched him. Silnieks has now been jailed. People who knew both men say their first reaction to the news was shock.

The incident took place on the night of 26 July. Information about it remains scarce. What is known is that a conflict occurred near the Priekule culture house, during which Silnieks struck Vamzis. Vamzis died from the injuries he received. The police officer was not on duty that day.

Priekule is a small town in Dienvidkurzeme Municipality, near the Lithuanian border, yet the dance was well attended. According to people met in the town last week, visitors arrived from outside as well. Several attendees at the time of the incident say they saw nothing because everyone was by the stage on one side of the culture house, while the fight took place around the corner, out of view. Portable toilets were set up nearby, and many young people gathered there all evening.

The tragedy has been described as the price of a two-per-mille intoxication: after the brawl, a young policeman ended up in prison and a respected teacher — in a grave.