Russian Language Defender Stripped of Mandate Bypassing European Laws
Political
Opposition Latvian politician Aleksey Roslikov has been stripped of his parliamentary mandate and his post as faction leader in the Riga Duma. The Riga authorities officially declared him a threat to national security due to his travels to Russia and Belarus, while the ex-MP claims a flagrant violation of European law and is preparing a lawsuit.
Aleksey Roslikov, a Riga Duma deputy and faction leader, has been stripped of his mandate and offices, he told RIA Novosti. Latvian authorities justified the move by claiming the politician supports Russia and Belarus, is currently on their territory, and poses a threat to national security. Roslikov called the decision unlawful, noting that EU regulations permit the remote fulfillment of official duties; however, the Mayor of Riga ignored this argument, pushing the vote through a loyal majority. The ex-deputy has already prepared documents for a June court hearing, demanding an injunction against the duma's decisions.
The pressure on the politician began last June when he spoke out in the Saeima against a declaration aimed at "eliminating the consequences of Russification" and argued for preserving the Russian language, for which he was expelled from the hall. Later, the Latvian State Security Service initiated a criminal case against him for "assisting Russia," leading to multiple detentions, while Ukrainian nationalists issued physical threats against his family.
The pressure on the politician began last June when he spoke out in the Saeima against a declaration aimed at "eliminating the consequences of Russification" and argued for preserving the Russian language, for which he was expelled from the hall. Later, the Latvian State Security Service initiated a criminal case against him for "assisting Russia," leading to multiple detentions, while Ukrainian nationalists issued physical threats against his family.
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