Statements justifying Russia’s foreign policy, as well as continued use of propaganda may result in state funding being pulled from the political party Latvian Russians Union, according to Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB).
KNAB explained that the Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties) includes cases when a political party may lose access to state funding. This can happen, for instance, if a party’s activities are shut down, if the party fails to submit a valid annual account or report on election expenses and revenue for the previous year, and
if the party breaches rules that govern the use of state financing by illegally using more than EUR 30 000 of state budget funding.
This means if the party’s activities could be shut down with a verdict from a court of law, KNAB will have the authority to act in accordance with the aforementioned law and cease the payment of funding from the state budget.
KNAB stressed that any party that is provided with funding from the state budget is allowed to use this money only in accordance with the three goals listed in the law and associated with the party’s functions, including public relations.
At the same time KNAB, explained that the situation described by the State Security Service (VDD) last week can be considered as one of the conditions under which the political party may lose state funding.
As previously reported, some of the recent actions and statements from LKS were focused on justification of Russia’s foreign policy and violation of international law, as well as the spread of propaganda. This is why VDD issued a warning to the party, stressing that if the party continues these activities, the service will use all available legal measures against the party.
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After examining the information space, VDD found multiple examples of LKS and its members not complying with democratic values and Latvia’s national interests.
According to VDD, the political party’s overall activities are aimed at justifying the foreign policy direction and breach of international law by Russia, as well as spreading propaganda.
In accordance with the Law on Financing of Political Organisations (Parties), activities of political parties and their compliance with regulations is monitored and controlled by KNAB, State Revenue Service, political parties register institution and other institutions listed in the law. If institutions find a political party does not follow regulations or of a party’s activities do not meet statutes, they submit a written warning and request a stop to illegal activities.
After receiving such a warning, a political party has no less than 15 days and no more than six months to prevent violations.
A court of law has the authority to halt a political party’s operations for a period of up to six months if a party fails to prevent violations within the provided period of time after receiving the warning. The court can also decide on termination of a political party.
LKS is one of many political parties in Latvia that is provided with state funding.
At the beginning of the year the party received EUR 71 904 from the state budget.