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Russia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state to prosecute MP for speaking Russian (VIDEO)
Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) has launched a criminal investigation against MP Aleksey Roslikov for speaking Russian at a parliamentary session last week. The lawmaker has been accused of 'providing assistance to the aggressor state' as well as inciting 'hatred' and 'sowing discord,' the agency said in a statement on Monday. On Thursday, Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against a declaration that would effectively ban the use of the Russian language in public space in Latvia. The initiative is seeking to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of the country, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Russian-speakers are an inalienable part of the Latvian society, Roslikov insisted, and criticized their growing marginalization. While he spoke in Latvian, he concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' 🇱🇻 Latvian MP Aleksejs Roslikovs has been expelled from parliament after criticizing a declaration on Soviet-era 'Russification' and concluding his speech in Russian. He warned of growing discrimination: 'What's next—banning Russian names?' Before walking out, he declared: 'We… He faces up to five years in prison if found guilty. Russian-speakers make up nearly a quarter of the Baltic country's population. The criminal case was initiated after the security service 'evaluated' Roslikov's speech as well as 'other recent activities,' the statement said. The VDD also said it had repeatedly 'warned' the lawmaker about 'potential criminal liability' for his actions. In late May, new parliamentary laws were approved, according to which MPs should only communicate in parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov's speech reportedly outraged many of his colleagues, as 63 MPs out of 100 instantly voted to expel him from the session. Describing the criminal case against him as 'bewildering,' Roslikov claimed he was defending a part of the Latvian population against 'persecution' under 'an absolutely criminal law.' He vowed to 'fight' and stated that he 'has no reasons to stop.' Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their collective stance against Russia. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens and banned vehicles with license plates from the country. It also introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Hundreds who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.'
Russia Today
04-06-2025
- General
- Russia Today
Man arrested in EU state for providing Russian TV access
Latvian police have arrested a man accused of providing access to banned Russian television channels to more than 400 households across the country, according to local media reports. The 42-year-old technician is reportedly suspected of setting up a system that bypassed content protection technologies, allowing viewers to watch banned Russian channels that supposedly spread propaganda. The man allegedly created a scheme to share television signal access cards, enabling multiple households to use a single valid code, reported on Tuesday. The arrest took place at the end of May following a State Police investigation. If convicted, the suspect could face up to three years in prison, community service, or a fine. The European Commission barred several Russia-linked media outlets from operating in EU member states after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022, accusing them of spreading propaganda. Sharing content from these outlets is also prohibited under EU law. Latvia, a former Soviet republic, has ramped up efforts to limit Russian influence, aligning closely with neighbors Estonia and Lithuania. All three Baltic states, which are among Kiev's strongest backers, have introduced broad restrictions on Russian nationals, including travel bans and mandatory language tests. In February, the Latvian parliament gave initial approval to a draft law that would prohibit citizens of Russia from acquiring real estate in the country. Russia has criticized the measures as part of an information war and accused the Baltic states of stifling dissent and discriminating against its Russian-speaking minorities. Ethnic Russians account for roughly a quarter of Latvia's 1.8 million population, according to official data. Latvia has seen a rise in arrests linked to providing access to Russian media. In April 2024, police raided border areas to block the broadcast of banned Russian channels. In November, another man was detained for installing equipment that enabled access to prohibited content for around 130 households. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova recently accused the Latvian authorities of 'blatant discrimination against Russians,' claiming many of their policies were openly Russophobic. She said anti-Russian sentiment had 'reached a new high' in the Baltics in recent years and warned that Latvia in particular could be brought to account at the International Court of Justice if it continued such practices.
