Riga City Court on Wednesday released from custody Viktor Gushchin, a long-time activist involved in Russia’s “compatriot policy”, who is accused of violating European Union (EU) sanctions by providing publications to a Russian propaganda outlet.
The court changed the security measure previously imposed on Gushchin from detention to police supervision. As an additional security measure, he has been prohibited from leaving the country.
Gushchin spent approximately nine months in custody. He was released in the courtroom immediately after the court announced its decision.
The defendant himself had requested that the security measure be changed to one not involving detention.
Gushchin’s lawyer, Imma Jansone, said she viewed the court’s decision positively, stressing that due to his age and health condition, the defendant would not be capable of fleeing the country.
Prosecutor Kaspars Ķikuts declined to comment.
During the hearing, Jansone stressed that the only argument used to justify Gushchin’s detention had been the risk that he might evade justice by fleeing to Russia. She also confirmed that Gushchin had not denied his ties to Russia, but said that he had not travelled there since 2023.
Jansone argued that the security measure should be changed because of Gushchin’s health problems – he has been diagnosed with diabetes – and because he needs to assist his 95-year-old mother.
The prosecutor, however, expressed concern that there were reasonable grounds to suspect that Gushchin could travel to Russia if the security measure were changed, as the defendant had previously indicated that he wanted to move there.
Gushchin received his higher education in Russia, has worked there and has attended several events in the country.
Addressing Gushchin’s argument that he needed to care for his mother, the prosecutor noted that Gushchin also has a brother who has most likely been taking care of their mother until now.
The court had previously also received personal guarantees for Gushchin from Andrejs Pagors, a representative of the Latvian Russian Union who was elected to Jelgava City Council last year from the joint Sovereign Power (SV) and Association of Young Latvians (AJ) list.
Witness Boruks Raudins was also questioned during the hearing. He said he had known Gushchin for a long time but had not been in contact with the defendant in recent years.
The next substantive hearing in Gushchin’s case is scheduled for 9 February 2027 at 12:00, when the defendant is expected to testify.
As previously reported, criminal proceedings against the Latvian citizen were launched on 26 November 2025 after the State Security Service (VDD) identified publications created by the individual for a Russian propaganda website operated by a foundation included on the EU’s international sanctions list.
According to information previously provided by the VDD, the publications contained messages glorifying Russia, including interpretations of Latvia’s occupation and other events of the Second World War in line with Russian interests.
Access to the Russian propaganda outlet in question has been blocked in Latvia following a recommendation by the VDD.
The VDD has stressed that providing any resources to an entity subject to EU sanctions constitutes a violation of EU sanctions.
Gushchin stood as a candidate in Latvia’s 12th and 13th Saeima elections on the Latvian Russian Union ticket but was never elected. He has worked as a lecturer and published books on history, as well as various publications containing Kremlin-friendly narratives and messages discrediting Latvia, including claims that Nazism is allegedly being revived in Latvia.
According to previous reports by Latvian Television, Gushchin continued these activities and attended events organised by Russia even after the aggressor state launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.
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