Complaint flood burdens Latvian institutions and courts

LSM’s De facto investigative programme has examined a flood of information requests and complaints targeting Latvian institutions that support Ukraine. The cases centre on Dmitrijs Matajevs, who moved to Belarus after being released from detention, while the association he represented continues to approach Latvian institutions and courts.

Latvia’s State Security Service has not named specific individuals but has warned that some Latvian citizens who have moved to aggressor states may be used in hybrid activities against Latvia.

Requests over anti-war poster

An anti-war poster by artist Krišs Salmiņš appeared on the facade of the Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine several weeks after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Residents of Antonijas Street proposed placing it opposite the Russian Embassy and also raised the funds for it.

This year, around the fourth anniversary of the war, the Bukultu Residents association asked the museum for detailed information about who had proposed, produced and installed the poster, who had approved it and who had paid for it.

The museum responded, but the correspondence continued. The association also requested information about the museum’s security, video surveillance costs and insurance.

“This essentially exposes a small institution to risk and, in my view, suggests that these requests are in fact a kind of avalanche. On the one hand, it is intended to paralyse state institutions,” museum director Kaspars Vanags told De facto. “And the question is: for what purpose is this information being collected?”

Eight cases brought to court

After the museum did not provide all the requested information, the association complained to the Ministry of Health. The ministry reviewed the correspondence and concluded that the museum had acted lawfully.

The association then turned to the Administrative District Court, which has accepted the case. In total, the court has received 10 applications from the association this year concerning the provision of information. Eight cases have already been initiated.

The cases involve the State Police and the Ministry of the Interior, Riga City Council, the Ministry of Agriculture, Salaspils City Council, the State Labour Inspectorate, the museum and the Ministry of Health. All eight cases are currently being prepared for trial.

“It may also be the goal: to involve as many institutions and as many people working in the public sector as possible, in order to burden the administrative court and then the entire court system during the appeals process,” the programme reported.