Ventspils City Council deputy Aivis Landmanis has turned to the Saeima National Security Committee with a request to look into [ex-Mayor of Ventspils] Aivars Lembergs’ advise addressed to the Latvian government to not provoke Russia. In his request, the deputy invites members of the committee to assess whether the presence of a person under sanctions from NATO in various posts in municipal administration, its institutions, capital associations and associations represents a breach of the country’s national security interests.
“A very influential official in Latvia posted a video titled “Provocateurs” on his Facebook account at 12:37 the 7th of March 2024. In it, the official in question legitimised a possible attack from Russian armed forces in Latvia,” wrote Aivis Landmanis in his request sent to National Security Committee chairman Ainars Latkovskis, deputy chairman Jānis Dombrava, secretary Edvards Smiltēns and other members of the committee.
Landmanis also quoted the full statement from Lembergs’ video:
“… Let’s go back to 1994. When the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia passed the Law “On the Agreements between the Republic of Latvia and the Russian Federation signed in Moscow on the 30th of April, 1994”. One package, four agreements. The first is the withdrawal of Russian armed forces from Latvia. Then there is one regarding the Skrunda radar, the status of Russian military pensioners and their social protection. And now Russia has basically announced that Latvia has basically breached this agreement and references the section “On the Maintenance of Memorial Structures and Mass Burial Sites”, or Section 13, which mentions that, in accordance with international practices Latvia is to ensure the maintenance and preservation of memorial structures and mass burial sites on territories of the Republic of Latvia. With its announcement to commence criminal prosecution of a number of former and existing high-ranking Latvian officials, Russia basically announces that the agreement is over. But the agreement included the withdrawal of Russian armed forces. What? You didn’t think Russia could announce tomorrow – you breached the agreement, the same one backed by this Saeima law and in this case they can very well denounce the agreement on the withdrawal of Russian armed forces from the country. So what will happen next? What? Here’s what. The country proudly and loudly nationalised the Moscow House owned by the Moscow City Council. But what else did Latvia get in exchange between railways in Moscow. Why did you do it? What’s the purpose of it? What’s the point? What an enormous blow to Russia. It’s over, from this day onward Russia has lost the war in Ukraine. Without Moscow House the country cannot possibly exist. Can it? Why do you keep provoking them? For what purpose? How does it benefit Latvia? Why do you insist on giving Russia a justified or unjustified reason for Russia to invade? I ask the President, Prime Minister, Saeima speaker, members of the Latvian Saeima – please, let’s cooperate to sole our problems. Why provoke Russia…”
A. Landmanis also notes: “This official’s statements are not accidental. For years this official, this influential public opinion formation expert has been implementing and maintaining a policy that glorifies Putin’s bloody regime, while also discrediting Latvia and its allies. He has carefully composed, promoted and maintained this narrative for years.”
Ventspils City Council deputy mentioned in the letter that after the US imposed sanctions on Aivars Lembergs, the response from the Latvian state was not sufficient, because unlike MEP Tatyana Zhdanok, this man was still allowed to run in elections [municipal elections] and was re-elected.
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Saeima asked to look into Aivars Lembergs’ suggestion to not provoke Russia
