Latvia puts German-Russian dual citizen on trial over aid to Russian military

A German-Russian dual citizen detained in Latvia is on trial over allegations that he collected and delivered goods and money to Russian military personnel. LSM reports that the defendant says he was providing humanitarian aid to civilians.

Prosecutors allege Sergejs Ņikitins made deliveries between November 18, 2023, and September 1 of the following year to people linked to Russia’s armed forces, hospitals treating military personnel and an organisation that directly collected support for the Russian army.

Prosecutor Kaspars Ķikuts said the State Security Service had established a crime after a lengthy analysis of the shipments. He said investigators knew Ņikitins had collected goods within the European Union, but could not determine precisely where each item or sum of money was collected or whether he had help in Latvia.

Ņikitins told the court he had travelled to Russia at least 20 times, guided by his conscience, to deliver goods as humanitarian aid to civilians. He denied supporting the Russian army.

Investigators found night-vision binoculars among hygiene products. Ņikitins said he had given the binoculars to hunters who helped him fix problems with his car.

His phone also contained videos filmed at a military hospital in Belgorod. In the recordings, Ņikitins showed the delivered goods and people wearing clothing resembling military uniforms.

Ņikitins previously served a prison sentence in Germany for murder. Ķikuts said cases of this kind posed a serious threat to international order and that those responsible should be held accountable.