The Latvian Foreign Ministry's press secretary Karlis Eihenbaums said on March 19 that European Parliament Member (MEP) Tatjana Zdanoka, a Soviet sympathizer, was not representing Latvia nor the EU during her recent visit to the Crimea to observe the referendum, as she did not have any official authorization to do so by Latvian institutions, reports LETA.
At the same time, he points out that Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics (Reform Party) condemns her actions.
The Latvian Foreign Ministry has already stated the Latvia does not recognize the legitimacy of the so-called referendum that was taking place in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea on joining the Russian Federation this past weekend.
Criminal case urged
Member of the European Parliament Karlis Sadurskis (Unity) has turned to the Prosecutor General in Latvia, asking to open a criminal case and press charges against Zdanoka, for undermining the constitutional system of Latvia, and its status as an independent state.
This stems from her recent activity and participation in organizations with the goal of reviving the USSR, activity that Sadurskis calls "deliberate."
Sadurskis points out specifically that Zdanoka is a fellow traveler in "Sutj Vremenji", whose manifesto "clearly advocates reviving the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and all it integrates, including the Latvian Republic."
Sadurskis says that "Sutj Vremenji" has a branch in Latvia, and that it is public knowledge that Zdanoka has taken part in at least two of its events, the last one in Russia on March 2. At this gathering, plans were made on how to support the Russian Federation in its occupation of Crimea, Sadurskis reveals.
Leading the rally
The rally on March 11 in Riga in support of Crimea and "in solidarity with the Crimean nation" held by For Human Rights In United Latvia (PCTVL) did not go smoothly as a scuffle between the participants in the rally and a passer-by broke out, and the police eventually had to detain one person. The scuffle occurred when the protesters gathered at the European Commission Representation in Latvia building on Aspazijas Street.
A total of about 200 people participated in the rally, led by the PCTVL head Tatjana Zdanoka, For Native Language representative Ilarions Girss, Latvia's Russian Union Jurijs Petropavlovskis, For Equal Rights coordinator Andris Tolmacovs and other pro-Russia activists.
Before that, rallies were also held at the French and German embassies in Riga. The protesters held Russian flags and various posters in Russian, expressing support for Russians living in Crimea and Crimea's independence.
PCTVL changed its name to the Latvian Union of Russians on Jan. 18.
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