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Russia Today
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state MP says parents raided after Russian-language scandal
A Latvian MP has claimed his parents' home was raided in what he called an effort to intimidate him for defending the right of ethnic Russians in the country to speak their language. Alexey Roslikov, who is being investigated for inciting hatred over a recent speech in parliament, was reportedly briefly detained and released on Monday. In his address to the Saeima earlier this month, Roslikov accused the government of persecuting Latvia's Russian minority, who make up roughly 25% of the population. He concluded his remarks in Russian and was escorted out for violating parliamentary rules established in May that mandate using only the Latvian language. The authorities launched a probe against the lawmaker, accusing him of aiding an 'aggressor state' [Russia] against Latvia. The country's State Security Service (VDD) confirmed conducting searches at properties linked to the MP, local media reported Monday. Several members of Roslikov's For Stability! party reported his detention. The lawmaker later posted a video on social media stating he had been barred from leaving the country while the VDD probe continues. He has accused the authorities of targeting his family in an effort to apply psychological pressure. 'They searched my place, they even searched my parents' place, they searched everything they could,' he said. Roslikov maintained that no evidence links him to Russia and described the allegations as a pretext for a more invasive investigation. He dismissed claims that advocating for the rights of ethnic Russians amounts to a criminal act. The June 5 speech marked Roslikov's final address in the national legislature before he relinquished his mandate five days later. On June 7, he was elected to Riga's municipal legislature, and under Latvian law, he cannot serve in both roles. His resignation stripped him of the prosecutorial immunity afforded to MPs. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have ramped up enforcement actions against individuals and organizations suspected of Russian ties. Among the measures taken by Riga are mandatory Latvian language exams for ethnic Russians. Hundreds of people have reportedly been deported for failing the exam or refusing to take it. Moscow has repeatedly accused the Baltic states of pursuing discriminatory policies against ethnic Russians driven by nationalist motives.
Russia Today
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state to prosecute MP for speaking Russian (VIDEO)
Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) has launched a criminal investigation against MP Aleksey Roslikov for speaking Russian at a parliamentary session last week. The lawmaker has been accused of 'providing assistance to the aggressor state' as well as inciting 'hatred' and 'sowing discord,' the agency said in a statement on Monday. On Thursday, Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against a declaration that would effectively ban the use of the Russian language in public space in Latvia. The initiative is seeking to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of the country, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Russian-speakers are an inalienable part of the Latvian society, Roslikov insisted, and criticized their growing marginalization. While he spoke in Latvian, he concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' 🇱🇻 Latvian MP Aleksejs Roslikovs has been expelled from parliament after criticizing a declaration on Soviet-era 'Russification' and concluding his speech in Russian. He warned of growing discrimination: 'What's next—banning Russian names?' Before walking out, he declared: 'We… He faces up to five years in prison if found guilty. Russian-speakers make up nearly a quarter of the Baltic country's population. The criminal case was initiated after the security service 'evaluated' Roslikov's speech as well as 'other recent activities,' the statement said. The VDD also said it had repeatedly 'warned' the lawmaker about 'potential criminal liability' for his actions. In late May, new parliamentary laws were approved, according to which MPs should only communicate in parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov's speech reportedly outraged many of his colleagues, as 63 MPs out of 100 instantly voted to expel him from the session. Describing the criminal case against him as 'bewildering,' Roslikov claimed he was defending a part of the Latvian population against 'persecution' under 'an absolutely criminal law.' He vowed to 'fight' and stated that he 'has no reasons to stop.' Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their collective stance against Russia. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens and banned vehicles with license plates from the country. It also introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Hundreds who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.'
Russia Today
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
EU state's parliament expels MP for speaking Russian
A Latvian MP has been kicked out of a parliamentary session and could face further punishment for speaking Russian in violation of the legislature's new rules, the head of the assembly has said. The incident occurred on Thursday during discussions in the Saeima on a declaration to 'eradicate the consequences' of the alleged 'Russification' of Latvia, which authorities in Riga claim took place under Soviet rule from 1940 to 1991. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Latvia and its Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuania, have intensified their efforts against alleged Russian influence. Riga has implemented travel restrictions targeting Russian citizens, banned vehicles with license plates from the country, and introduced a mandatory Latvian language test for long-term residents of Russian origin. Thousands who failed or refused the exam have been deported. The Kremlin has denounced the measures as 'blatant discrimination against Russians.' Aleksey Roslikov of the For Stability! party spoke out in parliament against the declaration being included on the agenda. The party represents the interests of Russian-speakers in the EU country, who make up 24.5% of its population, according to a 2021 census. The lawmaker criticized the growing marginalization of Russian speakers in Latvia, saying: 'What is next? A law prohibiting Russian names for children because they sound Russian?' Roslikov delivered his speech in Latvian, but concluded it with a phrase in Russian, proclaiming: 'There are more of us, and Russian is our language.' The MP then displayed an obscene gesture to the audience. The MP's behavior outraged many of his colleagues, who instantly voted to expel him from the session of the parliament. The move was supported by 69 out 100 members of the legislature. The speaker of the Saeima, Daiga Mierina, said that Roslikov had shown 'disrespect' to his fellow lawmakers and could face further punishment, including a ban on attending up to six more parliament sessions and a warning. In late May, the Saeima voted in new regulations, according to which the MPs should only communicate in the parliament in the official – Latvian – language. Roslikov later told the media he had no regrets, calling his outburst appropriate when someone is denied the right to speak their own language. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev shared the video from the Saeima on his page on X and praised the Latvian MP for standing up for the Russian language. On the eve of Russian Language Day, which is marked on June 6, 'decent people accessibly explained everything to the die-hard Russophobes in their native, Russian language,' Medvedev, who currently serves as deputy chair of Russia's Security Council, wrote.
