Police authorities in Latvia stated Monday that they had actually initiated criminal procedures against lawmaker Aleksejs Rosikovs for supporting Russia and inciting hatred.The investigation stems from a June 5 parliamentary argument throughout which Rosikovs, a member of Latvias Russian-speaking minority, was ejected from the chamber after shouting in Russian: We are the majority! and Russian is our language, according to Latvian media.Rosikovs is implicated of offering assistance to the aggressor state Russia in action directed against Latvia and activating national hatred and enmity, LatviasState Security Service (VDD) intelligence agency saidIf founded guilty, he faces up to five years in prison.The parliamentary argument last week was available in response to Latvias decision to require certain Russian-speaking locals to pass a Latvian language test or face deportation.As of 2025, ethnic Russians make up roughly 23% of Latvias 1.8 million individuals, according to the countrys stats company.
The language exam requirement uses just to a part of that group.Rosikovs leads the For Stability! party, which promotes for the rights of Latvias Russian-speaking minority.
The Eurosceptic party won 10 seats in the 2022 parliamentary elections.In a Facebook video, Rosikovs said the allegations against him were politically motivated and stemmed from his defend fact and justice, including that he was protecting part of the population that lives in Latvia.The For Stability! party did not react to an ask for comment from AFP.