This week, the Prosecutor’s Office filed charges against pro-Kremlin activist Aleksandrs Gapoņenko for aiding a foreign state in activities directed against Latvia and for inciting national hatred and discord, the LETA news agency has learned.
While not naming the individual directly, the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed to LETA that the indictment has been formally issued.
The charges are related to illegal actions previously reported in the media — specifically, Gapoņenko’s participation in and statements made during a public conference organized by the Russian-based organization “Institute for Diaspora and Integration of the Commonwealth of Independent States.” The conference, titled “Ethnocide of Russian Compatriots in the Baltic States as a Factor in Preparation for War with Russia,” was held in Moscow on February 4, 2025.
Since February 14, Gapoņenko has been held in pre-trial detention at Riga Central Prison.
On Thursday, an investigative judge from Riga District Court ruled to extend the preventive detention measure.
A decision on concluding the pre-trial criminal proceedings and referring the case to court is expected soon, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
It was previously reported that the criminal prosecution was recommended by the State Security Service (VDD).
Without naming the individual, the VDD stated that a “well-known, long-time pro-Kremlin activist” had been detained on February 13 in connection with remarks made during a public discussion in Moscow, which were deemed harmful to Latvia’s national security.
During the discussion, the detained activist made statements encouraging harm to Latvia’s state security and expressed support for Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.
Gapoņenko’s lawyer, Imma Jansone, told LETA that her client does not believe he committed any criminal offense.
The discussion included disinformation narratives aligned with Russian interests and involved multiple Latvian nationals. Several pro-Kremlin activists participated either in person or remotely, including fugitive former Riga City Council member Ruslans Pankratovs, Romans Samuļs, former Member of the European Parliament Andrejs Mamikins, Sergejs Vasiļjevs, Gapoņenko, and others.
After reviewing statements made at the conference, the VDD launched a criminal case. Gapoņenko was detained and a search was carried out at his residence.
Born in 1954, Gapoņenko has previously been convicted for inciting national hatred and engaging in activities directed against Latvia. He is also accused in another ongoing case.
In spring 2022, the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal, thereby upholding the Riga City Court’s ruling that found Gapoņenko guilty of inciting national hatred and acting against Latvia. He was given a suspended sentence.
In that case, Gapoņenko was accused of disseminating false claims used by Russian propaganda media from late 2017 to spring 2018. These included allegations of a fascist resurgence in Latvia, persecution of Russian-speaking residents, and possible genocide against Latvians of Russian descent, supposedly carried out by the Latvian army and NATO allies.
In one self-authored article, Gapoņenko claimed that U.S. special forces soldiers were arriving in Latvia disguised as Russian insurgents to stage mass unrest as a pretext to target Russian movement leaders.
Gapoņenko is also facing charges in another case for inciting national hatred, which is currently being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
Gapoņenko has been mentioned repeatedly in the annual reports of the State Security Service.