State Security Service investigates Mnogoknig sites over sanctions

Latvia’s State Security Service carried out investigative measures at four sites in Riga and the surrounding region linked to the Mnogoknig bookstore chain on Thursday and overnight into Friday, LSM reported, citing the service and the LETA news agency.

The measures were part of a criminal case launched by the State Security Service on July 28 on suspicion of violating European Union sanctions.

One person was detained and placed in custody as a security measure. The service declined to provide further comment in the interests of the investigation.

The State Security Service said the measures were not related to amendments that took effect on September 1 banning the import into Latvia of books, newspapers and other printed materials from Russia and Belarus. Control over such imports falls within the authority of the State Revenue Service’s Customs Administration and the Tax and Customs Police.

LETA observed on Friday that the Mnogoknig store on Augusta Deglava Street in Riga was open and operating normally. Employees declined to answer questions about whether law enforcement officials had visited the store or why they might have done so.

According to Firmas.lv, the owner of the Mnogoknig company registered in Piņķi is Aleksandrs Karabeļņikovs. The company reported turnover of 613,683 euros and a profit of 9,696 euros in 2025.

Firmas.lv also lists Karabeļņikovs and Olga Bartule as owners of Kors N, a company engaged in book retail whose related sites include Mnogoknig.lv stores.

In 2015, Kors N supplied Maxima Latvija stores with globes depicting Crimea as part of Russia. Sales of the globes were halted. At the time, Kors N board member Karabeļņikovs said the distributor had not known that the globes would be supplied to the retailer.