Latvia opens case against deputy who shouted “There are more of us!” in support of Russian language
9 June 21:49
Criminal proceedings are opened in Latvia against a member of the Seimas from the “For Stability!” Aleksejs Roslikovs. The reason for this was his statements during a recent parliamentary session, which law enforcement officials interpreted as aiding a foreign state and inciting national hatred, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing LSM.
What happened:
on June 5, during a discussion of the inclusion of a draft declaration on the “criminal Russification of Latvia by the Soviet regime” in the parliamentary agenda, Roslikov emotionally spoke against it. At the end of his speech, he shouted in Russian:
“There are more of us, our language is Russian!” and then showed an obscene gesture known as “elbow,” which is perceived as a crude analog of the “middle finger.” The deputy was then escorted out of the meeting room.
What is being charged:
The State Security Service of Latvia reported that the investigation is being conducted under two articles of the Criminal Code:
- Article 81.1 – assisting a foreign state in actions against the Republic of Latvia
- Article 78 – incitement to national hatred and enmity.
What is known about Roslikov:
According to the Latvian special services, the MP has previously attracted attention for his pro-Russian statements. He has been repeatedly interviewed and warned of possible criminal liability.
How he explains it:
In his comments to journalists, Roslikov claimed that he did not regret his actions, but said that his words “There are more of us” allegedly did not refer to ethnic Russians, but to those who disagreed with the position of the majority in parliament.
