Security Police report warns of threat to Latvian security

When a group calls for violent overthrow of a government, in a law-abiding and civil society, then it is time for that group to be deemed a threat and removed from society.

This sentiment reflects a situation that is today playing out in Latvia, with a group that calls itself the ‘Non-Citizens’ Congress’ at the center of debate. Rather than follow the law and work for its interests and improve its position in society within the legal framework, it insists on circumventing civil societal rules to pursue its own, narrow interests.

The "Non-Citizens' Congress," as it calls itself, has now sent a letter to NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, complaining about the Security Police, reports LETA.

The letter was sent a few days after the Security Police's annual report appeared, where the "Non-Citizens' Congress," and its leader Elizabete Krivcova, were named as one of the most active supporters of the Kremlin's so-called diaspora policy abroad - seen as a threat to Latvia by officials inside Latvia.

Krivcova, in the letter, complains that the report destabilizes the situation in Latvia. "The Security Police's annual report considers criticism of the government and protection of minority rights as a threat to the nation. Among the threats mentioned are ‘Non-Citizens' Congress’ contacts with the Secretary General of the United Nations, European Commission, Western-countries' embassies," the letter says.

She also believes that in the current tense situation, created by aggressiveness by Russia today with all its western neighbors, these misrepresentations are a threat to collective security because "the government on one hand is concerned about the risk factor connected to the Russian-speaking populace in Latvia, while on the other, with its actions, provokes them to hold protests."

Though there is no ‘provocation’ of the Russian-speakers ‘to hold protests’ in Latvia, but there is provocation by these groups, with funding coming from Moscow in support, of creating unrest in Latvia, and the Baltics.

The Security Police concluded in their annual report that Russia's measures used to influence public opinion and domestic processes in Latvia have become even more intensive than usual, and it is expected that Russia will continue to use Latvia's mass media for this purpose.

National security is threatened by systematic propaganda, spreading of misinformation with an aim to split Latvian society, spoil Latvian residents' sense of belonging to the nation, and doubt state sovereignty and the legitimacy of independence, the Security Police stress.

Russia has actively used the mass media last year in order to discredit Latvia.

For several years now, Russia intensely has spread that "rebirth of Fascism and glorification of Fascism" and "violations of the rights of Russian-speaking residents" are taking place in Latvia, at the same denying Latvia's occupation by Soviet Russia in 1940.

Glorification of the positive contribution of the USSR to Latvia's development (which most agree that there was none) and one-sided interpretation of the current situation in Latvia are appearing more often in the mass media.

In order to enhance the spreading of these myths and stereotypes, Russian-controlled media entities actively circulate the opinion of the "right" experts and politicians; furthermore, many of these "experts" and "specialists" are made up – fabricated - by the mass media, the Security Police explains.

Russia's politics concerning the Russian diaspora in Latvia will also surely be at a heightened level this year, becoming a significant threat to security, also says the Security Police report.

The Security Police revealed the most active Russian diaspora members – the trouble-makers - in Latvia, including Viktors Guscins, Aleksandrs Gaponenko, Josifs Korens, Elizabete Krivcova, Illarions Girss, Margarita Dragile, Jelena Bacinska.

The officially-stated aim of Russian diaspora policy is to offer help to Russia’s countrymen, protecting their interests and rights in the countries where they reside. Also, to facilitate their return to Russia.

At the same time, Russia is using this policy to cover up various measures it undertakes to fulfill its geopolitical interests in foreign countries. Considering this, the Russian policy creates a threat to national security, the Security Police says. Their report indicates that in 2013, several amendments were made concerning policy priorities and methodology, with wording changed as well. Previously, the policy stressed "cooperation with countrymen," but now it reads "support for countrymen and protection of rights."

The intention is to draw attention to the alleged "discrimination of countrymen" and "violation of human rights" in foreign states, even when there is none. These phrases were actively used in a series of vociferous statements against the Baltic States, accusing them of "violations of rights of Russia's countrymen" and "glorification of Nazism," again, all untrue allegations.

In fact, in many cases it is non-governmental organizations, supported by Russia, that have acted counter to consolidation of Latvian society, undermining the Russian-speaking populace's feeling of belonging to Latvia, the Security Police points out.