Analysts note that Russian officials are increasingly declaring Russia’s right to protect “compatriots abroad.”
Russia is likely to create informational conditions for future escalation against Latvia. One of the reasons is the closure of the alleged base of Russian information influence in Latvia. This is stated in the ISW report.
On January 11, the Latvian Parliament adopted a bill on the transfer of the business and cultural center House of Moscow in Riga, owned by the Russian government, to the ownership of the Latvian state to ensure the country’s security. The Russian government used the structure to support Russian influence operations in Latvia.
The Russian Embassy in Latvia responded to the broadcast, saying that this “hostility” would lead to “serious consequences.” The Russians also accused the Latvian government of “systematically persecuting Russian speakers in Latvia” over a recent law requiring Russian citizens with residence permits in Latvia to take a Latvian language test .
“The Russian prosecution is probably deliberately equating all Russian speakers in Latvia with Russian citizens living in Latvia, trying to exacerbate tensions between local Russian speakers and ethnic Russians and Latvian speakers, ” notes the Institute.
Officials in the Russian Federation have increasingly asserted Russia’s right to protect “compatriots abroad,” broadly defined as ethnic Russians and Russian speakers, and not just Russian citizens.
“Russia may be setting conditions aimed at destabilizing Latvia by exacerbating language tensions and posing as a protector of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers,” analysts said.
We remind you that Latvia plans to take ownership of the House of Moscow in Riga, and the funds will be transferred to Ukraine. The corresponding law is adopted by the country’s Seimas.
Zelensky arrived on a visit to Latvia
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.