Continued spreading of Kremlin propaganda might be reason for halting funding for Latvia's Russian Union - Corruption Prevention Burau

RIGA - Justification of Russia's foreign policy and continued spreading of Kremlin propaganda might be one of the reasons for halting public funding for Latvia's Russian Union (LKS), LETA was told at the Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB). 

KNAB representatives said that the Law on Financing of Political Organizations (Parties) describes cases where a political party can lose funding from the state budget. Public funding for a party is halted if the party is suspended, if it fails to submit its annual report or  a declaration on campaign revenue and expenditure, if the party has breached the rules for spending public funding and has spent more than EUR 30,000 unlawfully.

Thus, if a court ruled to suspend a political party, KNAB would be authorized to withhold public funding to the party in accordance with the law. 

KNAB representatives also said that the situation reported last week by the State Security Service could be regarded as a reason for halting public funding for the political party. 

As reported, activities of Latvia's Russian Union (LKS) are aimed at justifying Russia's foreign policy and violations of international law, as well as spreading Kremlin propaganda, the State Security Service has concluded, telling the party to refrain from such unlawful activities or face legal consequences, LETA was told at the State Security Service last week. 

Analyzing developments in Latvia's information environment, the State Security Service has noticed a number of LKS activities that are contravening democratic values and Latvia's national security interests.

The State Security Service's assessment is that the party's activities are aimed at justifying Russia's foreign policy and violations of international law, as well as spreading Russian propaganda.

The State Security Service would not elaborate on its conclusions about LKS activities.

Miroslavs Mitrofanovs, one of LKS leaders and a member of Riga City Council, told LETA that the party received a warning from the State Security Service a month ago. Mitrofanovs said he saw no indications that LKS had breached any laws and that the Security Service had made no mention of any violations either.

"In their warning, the State Security Service said LKS must not support aggression. They also pointed at European Parliament member Tatjana Zdanok's vote in the European Parliament against a resolution on Russia's aggression in Ukraine. We all understand that this is not a violation of law but a political vote which is each MEP's choice," the LKS co-chairman said.

Mitrofanovs said the LKS leadership has asked party members to refrain from discussing the war in Ukraine on social networks. He added that the situation has stabilized and that most LKS members comply with the request.