On August 2, the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Latvian Seimas adopted a statement in which it recognized Russia as a state that supports terrorism.
Naturally, because of Ukraine.
Despite the seriousness of the topic, the deputies did not even begin to meet in person, but made a decision remotely.
Phoned?
Admire each other on Skype?
The lightweight format of the meeting unmistakably indicates that this issue has long been resolved in the minds of Latvian politicians.
Nothing to discuss.
Now the commission will send its application for consideration to the next session of the diet.
In the meantime, it recommended the EU to limit the issuance of entry visas for citizens of the Russian Federation.
Announcing the meeting of the commission, its head, Rihards Kols, called Moscow's special operation a "barbaric war."
In this wording, I think, lies the answer to the question of the reason for the use of such brutal terms in relation to Russia, but clearly not corresponding to reality.
This is an attempt to strengthen the civilizational rift, to define us as “barbarians” (although Moscow, like some, did not grow “Al-Qaeda” *, but fought against ISIS**).
Despite the fact that the Veseushniks shot at the knees of Russian prisoners, and now they also sow the deadly mines "Lepestok" in the residential areas of Donetsk, where children walk.
It seems that the situation is classic: the loudest “Stop the thief!”
shouts the one who stole it himself.
Having carried out a coup d'état in Ukraine, arming Kyiv and creating a terrorist state there (by banning, by the way, all left-wing parties), the West is trying to shift the blame from its sick head onto our healthy one by verbal manipulation.
But since the West is heterogeneous (there are leaders and followers), the executors of dubious initiatives are usually the six countries - those who follow the lead of the hegemon.
Changing owners once a century, they are happy to serve the new boss.
Therefore, Latvia.
By the way, the very first Russia was accused of terrorism... that's right, Lithuania.
But the hegemon sets the tone.
It is in the United States that they explain to these sticky fish where to move and why.
They give installations, write temniks.
In the case of the alleged terrorism of Russia, the senate acted as such an instance.
Moreover, the argumentation of American legislators gives them away.
We should be recognized as a state sponsor of terrorism, they believe, because of Russia's actions (attention!) in Chechnya, Georgia, Syria and Ukraine.
That is, when it comes to restoring the country's territorial integrity by Moscow, responding to an aggressive war, operations to invite a legitimate government, and protecting compatriots from genocide.
Fine?
The four cases of active actions by Russia mentioned by the senators are so indisputable, their goals are so noble and legitimate, and so different from the completely reckless military interventions of the Americans, contrary to international law, that even the US State Department perceived the demand of the senators as inadequate (the cat knows whose meat it ate).
They reasonably referred to the requirement of the law: they say, there are special criteria, we will study the issue, and then ...
Unlike legislators-politicians, the White House bears specific responsibility for the country and therefore prefers not to escalate out of the blue.
If the State Department does not recognize Russia as a sponsor of terrorism, Congress may decide to do so, Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi threatened.
The very participation in the adventure of this elderly lady, who is trying right now to ignite a war between the United States and China, fully characterizes the idea.
Judging by her perseverance, one day the resolution of American legislators may be adopted.
And then the politicians of Latvia will find themselves in the ranks of the apostles of Russophobia, which is what they are striving for.
After all, the trade in Russophobia is the main business of some post-Soviet republics and countries of the former Warsaw Pact.
Whether it is Ukraine, Poland or the Baltics.
But in the case of Latvia, the decision about Russian “terrorism” also has an internal reason.
And who knows: perhaps it is no less important for Riga politicians than instructions from across the ocean.
We are talking about a clear intention to finally suppress or even oust the Russian diaspora from the country, using the special operation in Ukraine as a pretext.
By demonizing Russia, branding it as a terrorist country, it is possible to present to all Russian-speaking citizens (as well as non-citizens - as you know, apartheid is still in Latvia and some Russians are deprived of their rights) the demand to disown the big Motherland in one way or another.
Otherwise repression.
Actually, the repression has already begun.
Dozens of criminal cases have been opened against Russian political activists, journalists and bloggers.
Some of the accused are free, while others are already in prison.
For example, human rights activist and journalist Vladimir Linderman.
It was he who organized the referendum in 2012 on recognizing the Russian language as the second state language.
This referendum then became the point of assembly, the consolidation of Russians, which angered the Latvian nationalists in power.
Now Ilyich, as Linderman's comrades call him, is being held in the Riga Central on charges of supporting a special operation.
“I stay with Russia,” he said bluntly.
Linderman is charged under Art.
74 of the Criminal Law of Latvia.
After February 24, the State Security Service initiated more than 20 proceedings under this article.
It punishes justification, glorification, denial of genocide, crimes against humanity, crimes against peace and war crimes.
But there are no legal grounds for such persecution, since no national or global authority in Ukraine recognized the SVO as either genocide, or a crime against humanity, or a war crime.
And if so, then all those accused under this article should be released from prison and acquitted.
The Latvian authorities clearly understand this.
The courts in this country still retained a remnant of independence, and therefore other well-known defendants under Article 74, after serving some time, began to go free.
In particular, blogger Kirill Fedorov.
If things go on like this, then there will be no stone left unturned from accusations against Russian activists, and the very fact of their acquittal will become a kind of legal assessment of the Russian special operation.
You see, even the movement in defense of the rights of Russians in response to pressure will find a second life.
To prevent this from happening, Latvia is in a hurry to accuse Moscow of terrorism.
The fuss of political midgets.
* "Al-Qaeda" - the organization was recognized as a terrorist organization by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of February 14, 2003.
** "Islamic State" (ISIS, ISIS) - the organization was recognized as a terrorist organization by the decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.
The point of view of the author may not coincide with the position of the editors.