Only 0.8 percent of eligible Russian voters in Latvia voted in Riga

Just 290 Russian citizens took part in Russia’s State Duma elections in Riga, representing 0.8 percent of all eligible Russian voters in Latvia, the State Police told LSM.

The polling station was located at the Russian Embassy in Latvia. The State Border Guard and State Police monitored whether Russian citizens complied with their residence conditions. Authorities said voter turnout was extremely low.

Police and their partners worked throughout the day under a previously prepared public order plan while monitoring developments in public spaces. No violations were recorded, and public order and safety were maintained, the State Police said.

Interior Minister Jānis Dombrava said earlier that the responsible authorities were carrying out immigration checks outside the embassy. By 2 p.m., officials had checked 164 of the 290 Russian citizens who came to vote during the day. Dombrava said every embassy visitor was counted.

He also said the Russian Embassy was allowing only one visitor inside at a time, creating a small queue outside. Dombrava described interest in taking part in the State Duma elections in Riga as negligible.

Latvia does not recognise voting in Russia’s so-called State Duma elections held in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Moldova’s Transnistria region, or Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali South Ossetia regions, the Foreign Ministry said.

The ministry said Russia’s illegal temporary occupation and annexation of Ukrainian territories, its occupation of Georgia’s Abkhazia and Tskhinvali South Ossetia regions, and its arbitrary and unlawful actions in Moldova’s Transnistria region violate international law. Latvia said the so-called State Duma elections held in those territories had no legitimate basis and were not recognised. Latvia also condemned the holding of the so-called State Duma elections on the Crimean Peninsula.