Russian Embassy threatens "most severe consequences" for Latvia over Saeima's decision to nationalize Moscow House

RIGA - The Russian Embassy in Latvia threatens "the most severe consequences" for Latvia over Saeima's decision to nationalize the so-called Moscow House in Riga, according to the embassy's statement posted on Telegram social networking service.

The embassy considers Saeima's decision to be "high-handedness" and "government robbery", which grossly violates the basic principles of international law that guarantee inviolability of national property in another country.

The statement goes on to say that the embassy has informed Latvia of "inevitable" response measures, including a claim for compensation by Riga over the "moral damage" caused.

"This step clearly demonstrates the unwillingness of the Latvian authorities to honor their international obligations in good faith. It sets a dangerous precedent, sending a clear signal to foreign nationals that their property in Latvia is protected neither by local nor international treaties (...) and can be confiscated at any time without legal justification or a court ruling. This unprecedented hostile action will not go unanswered and will have the gravest consequences for those who initiated it," said the embassy.

As reported, Saeima on Thursday adopted in the final reading the bill on the nationalization of the so-called Moscow House in Riga.

The building would be later sold, and the revenue from the sale would be allocated to Ukraine. A separate decision will be made on selling the property.

The law is intended to ensure Latvia's national security, including by a timely prevention of threats to Latvia's democratic order.

According to the authors of the draft law, it will ensure that political activities that may threaten Latvia's national security and that take place under the guise of cultural events and interest education in Moscow House will be stopped, Moscow House as a "brand" of Russian compatriots' politics will be closed and the threat to Latvia's statehood and national security will be prevented.

The international sanctions introduced against Russia have made it more difficult for Moscow House to operate, but have not completely curtailed or stopped them. The State Security Service has noted that, even after February 24, 2022, the premises of Moscow House have been leased to persons whose activities suggest of support for Russia's aggressive foreign policy.

As Moscow House has been serving as a venue for hostile and harmful activities for a long time and the concentration of such dangerous political ideas threatens the security of the Latvian state and its democratic order, Latvia is obliged to take active measures against the existence of a venue supporting such activities, the annotation of the draft law states.

Moscow House officially belongs to the Property Department of Moscow City. JSC Moscow Culture and Business Centre Moscow House, owned by Moscow City's Property Department, has historically been Moscow House's legal representative. Since March 10, 2020 this function has been taken over by the State Unitary Enterprise Moscow Centre for International Cooperation. Its rights to use the property indefinitely has been registered in the Land Register of Latvia. The structure of both these legal entities is linked to a direct influence of Russia and Moscow, according to the annotation to the draft law.

The transitional provision of the draft law stipulates that the Cabinet of Ministers has until March 31, 2024 to submit a report to the Saeima on the further management of the property. The authors of the bill suggest using the property to provide assistance to Ukraine or Ukrainians, taking into account that Latvia has no intention to enrich itself or benefit from the takeover of Moscow House.