Latvian office of the prosecutor has sent to a court of law a criminal case involving a man who publicly spoke against Latvia’s independence and invited others to do the same.
As BNN was informed by the office of the prosecutor, at the end of March 2022 the prosecutor of Riga Court District Prosecutor’s Office sent to the court of law charges against a person for public calls against Latvia’s state independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, state power and the state system.
According to the prosecutor, the man took part in some radio programme’s live analytical show at the end of March 2020.
During the show the accused went into a discussion, in which he glorified the policy implemented by Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, among other things: «[…] I support this occupation theory and say, yes, there was an occupation, and I would like to ask Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to do another occupation. An occupy us again, because we need to save the remaining Latvian residents. Russians will survive.»
Read also: Day 56 of war in Ukraine: Russian bombs trap 300 people under rubble, ten attacks repelled in Donbass
The accused man participated in discussions directly and actively. He intentionally and publicly voiced his opinions for all listeners of the radio show, and suggested multiple times for Russia to occupy Latvia. He also proposed tuning against Latvia’s state independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, state power and state system, thereby breaching the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia.
The prosecutor requests criminal prosecution of the man in accordance with Section 81 of the Criminal Law. According to this section the aforementioned crime is punishable with deprivation of liberty for a period of up to five years or temporary deprivation of liberty, or probationary supervision, or community service, or fine.
The case was submitted to Riga City Vidzeme Suburb Court for review.
The office of the prosecutor stresses that no person is considered guilty until his or her guilt has been proven in accordance with the law.
Man to be put on trial for publicly speaking against Latvia’s independence
