Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has asked prosecutors to open a criminal case against Alexei Roslikov, a Riga City Council member and leader of the opposition party Stability!, for deliberately inciting hatred between Latvians and Russians. According to Delfi, which published the agency’s statement, the investigation concerns Roslikov’s remarks made on 5 June 2025, when he was still a member of parliament. The VDD concluded that his speech in the Saeima aimed to provoke hostility by portraying Latvians and the Latvian state as oppressors of the Russian-speaking community.
During the debate on a declaration condemning Soviet-era russification, Roslikov claimed that the proposal would lead to discriminatory measures against Russian speakers. He used rhetorical questions about “reservations” and bans on Russian names and ended his speech by shouting in Russian, “There are more of us! Russian is our language!”, accompanied by an obscene gesture. The VDD argues that these statements spread false information about the declaration, which did not restrict the use of the Russian language, and were intended to provoke resentment and mobilize Russian-speaking residents against the state.
Manipulation of Language Issues and Pro-Kremlin Narratives
The Stability! party, founded in 2021 by former members of pro-Russian and Eurosceptic groups, routinely positions itself as a defender of “social justice” and “language rights.” However, its messaging frequently aligns with Kremlin narratives opposing Latvia’s decolonisation policies and efforts to reverse the legacy of russification. Roslikov’s June speech fits this pattern: by presenting Latvian policies as repressive, he sought to inflame tensions and create the perception of systemic discrimination.
The VDD noted that this was not Roslikov’s first provocative act. Security officials had previously warned him about potential criminal liability for spreading inflammatory rhetoric. His latest statements, they argue, exceeded political expression and constituted targeted agitation designed to fuel ethnic conflict. The agency has therefore asked prosecutors to charge him under Article 78(2) of the Criminal Law for inciting national and ethnic hatred while holding public office.
Broader Risks of Russian Influence and Information Manipulation
The case is expected to draw attention from Russian state media, which routinely depicts the Baltic states as hostile to Russian speakers. Analysts warn that the Kremlin could use Roslikov’s prosecution to reinforce narratives about “oppression” in Latvia and justify its broader hybrid-influence campaigns in the region. Such framing allows Moscow to present pro-Kremlin politicians as victims while undermining trust in Latvian institutions.
Latvia continues to face systematic attempts by Russia to destabilise its political environment through propaganda, support for sympathetic political actors, and amplification of language-related tensions. While most Russian-speaking residents are integrated, language issues remain a sensitive topic vulnerable to manipulation. Security experts caution that Latvia and its Baltic neighbours remain at heightened risk, as Russia views the region as strategically important and seeks opportunities to exploit internal divisions. Continued efforts to counter disinformation and reinforce national resilience remain central to Latvia’s defence posture.
