Latvia
Overall Score
Details
B
On Track
Accomplishments:
- Among EU's leaders in countering pro-Kremlin propaganda and advocating for enhanced military support for Ukraine.
Drawbacks:
- Can do more to investigate dirty money from Russia within its jurisdiction.
- Initally Latvia stopped buying Russian gas but resumed purchases in summer.
Condemnation
Military Support
Providing military support for Ukraine, composed of four key categories:
- Ground Forces Support (e.g. small arms, defensive equipment, anti-tank)
- Air Defense Support
- Communications Support
- Cyber Intelligence Support
As a small nation with 2m inhabitants on the border of Russia, Latvia has provided considerable military aid to Ukraine:
- Stinger anti-aircraft missile systems, 30 truckloads of individual equipment and supplies (including combat helmets, dried food, medical devices, and medicine), 90 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Financial & Institutional Sanctions
Identifying sanctions impacting the Russian economy as a whole, including banks, sovereign debt, industry, access to global markets, etc.
- Latvia has not yet undertaken any additional measures, apart from the EU, against Russian financial instututions.
- Together with other Baltic states and Slovakia, Latvia called for confiscation of sanctioned Russian assets and use them to rebuild Ukraine.
Sanctions on Oligarchs, Kleptocrats, & Western Enablers
Sanctions on individuals in Putin's inner circle including:
- exposing & seizing their assets
- revoking their visas
- holding them legally accountable where possible
The goal is to convince these individuals that their futures would be better without Putin than with him.
Latvian banks have frozen €11.5 million due to EU's sanctions against Russian individuals.
However, Russia regarded Latvia as a 'weak link' among the Batlic states due to a wide network of Russian assets and political interests being kept and developed in Latvia. Russian investments are still to be investigated in Latvia.
Diplomatic Isolation
Measures taken to isolate Russia diplomatically (e.g. recall of ambassadors & diplomats, stripping Russia of its G20 membership, etc)
- Latvia expelled several Russian diplomats and closed Russian consulates in Daugavpils and Liepaja.
Propaganda
Combatting Putin's global propaganda network. While respecting freedom of speech, Putin should not be allowed to spread disinformation while Russia bans every single independent outlet. This measures countries' success in curbing Russian disinformation spread through Russia Today and other platforms.
- All Russia-based TV channels banned in Latvia
- The prime ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland sent a public letter to internet giants to combat war propaganda and disinformation. Soon afterward, internet giants removed Russian disinformation channels from their platforms.
Replace Russian Energy
Replacing Russian energy exports with alternative energy sources. That includes increasing production and opening new sources from fracking to nuclear to renewables.
- Since April 1st Russian natural gas is no longer flowing directly to Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania.
- Talks are ongoing with Lithuania and Estonia to harmonize the use of an independent Baltic energy system.
However,
- Latvia resumed buying Russian gas in July.