A Saxony state parliament member, Nam Duy Nguyen, has announced that he will file a criminal complaint against police officers after being allegedly attacked by them during a demonstration in Riesa. Nguyen, a parliamentary observer, claimed that a police officer from the Lower Saxony police force struck him in the face despite his clear identification as a parliamentary observer.
“I’m clear that we will file a criminal complaint against the responsible officers” Nguyen told the Stern newspaper. He said he had loudly and with his ID badge pointed out his status as a parliamentary observer. “Despite this, a police officer hit me in the face. This was a frontal attack, like I’ve never experienced before” Nguyen said.
The parliamentary observer sustained injuries in the mouth and jaw area and required medical treatment. The criminal police have been notified, and a communication team from the police documented the incident.
Nguyen stated that he wore his parliamentary ID badge visibly throughout the demonstration, and his staff member was also marked with a warning vest as part of the observer team. “I momentarily lost my sight, but was pulled up by people around me” Nguyen said, adding that he had to stop his observing duties after the incident.
The parliament member is calling for a comprehensive investigation, emphasizing that this is not just about his case but also about all instances of police violence being thoroughly examined. He expects the Saxony state government to provide a thorough review of the incident, stating, “It must be clear that such incidents have consequences, and fundamental rights like the freedom of assembly and demonstration must apply equally to all people.