Riga vice mayor calls for nationalization of Moscow House

RIGA - Riga Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance/Latvian Association of Regions) has called on the Saeima National Security Committee to find a solution for the nationalization of Moscow House in Riga, LETA was told at the press office of Riga City Hall.

The vice mayor argues that the nationalization of this property would be in national security interests, considering that Moscow House "has always been serving as headquarters for  the Russian Federation's activities in Latvia". 

Previously, Ratnieks turned to the State Security Service with a request to provide an opinion about this property's significance for Latvia's security. Ratnieks informed the Security Service that already since its opening in 2004, Moscow House has been used by Russia as headquarters  for various influence activities directed against Latvia's interests. 

"In the current geopolitical situation where Russian authorities are prompted to increasingly use any available instruments to justify the ongoing aggression, the existence of Moscow House in light of its role in enabling Russia's influence activities continues to pose a threat to national security," Ratnieks said. 

The Riga vice mayor believes that it is necessary to identify also other properties in Latvia that should be nationalized.

Moscow House, a building at 7 Marijas Street in Riga, is positioned as a Russian cultural and business center. Its construction and maintenance is financed by the Moscow government. The Moscow House project was proposed by then Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov and then Russian ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov in 2001.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Justice Ministry decided to freeze Moscow House's assets. 

RIGA, Feb 23 (LETA) - Riga Vice Mayor Edvards Ratnieks (National Alliance/Latvian Association of Regions) has called on the Saeima National Security Committee to find a solution for the nationalization of Moscow House in Riga, LETA was told at the press office of Riga City Hall.

The vice mayor argues that the nationalization of this property would be in national security interests, considering that Moscow House "has always been serving as headquarters for  the Russian Federation's activities in Latvia". 

Previously, Ratnieks turned to the State Security Service with a request to provide an opinion about this property's significance for Latvia's security. Ratnieks informed the Security Service that already since its opening in 2004, Moscow House has been used by Russia as headquarters  for various influence activities directed against Latvia's interests. 

"In the current geopolitical situation where Russian authorities are prompted to increasingly use any available instruments to justify the ongoing aggression, the existence of Moscow House in light of its role in enabling Russia's influence activities continues to pose a threat to national security," Ratnieks said. 

The Riga vice mayor believes that it is necessary to identify also other properties in Latvia that should be nationalized.

Moscow House, a building at 7 Marijas Street in Riga, is positioned as a Russian cultural and business center. Its construction and maintenance is financed by the Moscow government. The Moscow House project was proposed by then Moscow mayor Yury Luzhkov and then Russian ambassador to Latvia Alexander Udaltsov in 2001.

After Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Justice Ministry decided to freeze Moscow House's assets.