The Saeima's National Security Commission (NSC) has submitted a draft law according to which the building of the House of Moscow in Riga at Marijas 7 is transferred to the ownership of the Latvian state, mixnews.lv reports.
According to the authors, the bill will ensure the cessation of political activities threatening Latvia's national security, held under the guise of cultural events and fostering interest in the "House of Moscow", the elimination of the name as a "brand" of the policy of Russian compatriots and prevention of threats to Latvian statehood and national security.
International sanctions against Russia have hampered the activities of the House of Moscow, but have not led to its complete cessation or liquidation. The State Security Service found that even after February 24, 2022, the premises of the House of Moscow have been rented to persons whose activities show signs of supporting Russia's aggressive foreign policy. Since hostile and harmful activities have long been carried out in the House of Moscow, and the concentration of such dangerous political ideas threatens the security of the Latvian state and the democratic state system, Latvia is obliged to take active measures against the existence of a place that supports such activities, the bill's annotation says.
The National Security Commission noted that the state, represented by the Ministry of Communications, owns the land plot on which the House of Moscow is located, so it is proposed to fix the ownership right in the name of the state, represented by the Ministry of Communications. Thus, with the adoption of the law a single real estate object will be created, which includes both the land and the building.
The draft law also provides for other issues related to the consolidation of ownership rights and subsequent actions. The bill provides that real property passes to the state free from all encumbrances and burdens, it being understood that the state does not continue or assume any obligations to the extent that they arise from the activities of the previous owner and related persons (users). The Draft Law also provides that persons who own property in immovable property have the right and obligation to remove it from the premises within seven days, and the property remaining after this period is considered ownerless property that belongs to the State of Latvia, and the Cabinet of Ministers decides on its further disposal. The Draft Law also obliges interested persons to re-register legal addresses registered on immovable property.
The transitional provision of the draft law stipulates that the Cabinet of Ministers shall submit a report to the Saeima on the further disposal of immovable property by March 31, 2024. The further disposal should take into account the possibility of using the property to assist Ukraine or Ukrainians, taking into account that Latvia has no purpose to enrich itself or benefit from the immovable property.
According to the authors, the bill will ensure the cessation of political activities threatening Latvia's national security, held under the guise of cultural events and fostering interest in the "House of Moscow", the elimination of the name as a "brand" of the policy of Russian compatriots and prevention of threats to Latvian statehood and national security.
International sanctions against Russia have hampered the activities of the House of Moscow, but have not led to its complete cessation or liquidation. The State Security Service found that even after February 24, 2022, the premises of the House of Moscow have been rented to persons whose activities show signs of supporting Russia's aggressive foreign policy. Since hostile and harmful activities have long been carried out in the House of Moscow, and the concentration of such dangerous political ideas threatens the security of the Latvian state and the democratic state system, Latvia is obliged to take active measures against the existence of a place that supports such activities, the bill's annotation says.
The National Security Commission noted that the state, represented by the Ministry of Communications, owns the land plot on which the House of Moscow is located, so it is proposed to fix the ownership right in the name of the state, represented by the Ministry of Communications. Thus, with the adoption of the law a single real estate object will be created, which includes both the land and the building.
The draft law also provides for other issues related to the consolidation of ownership rights and subsequent actions. The bill provides that real property passes to the state free from all encumbrances and burdens, it being understood that the state does not continue or assume any obligations to the extent that they arise from the activities of the previous owner and related persons (users). The Draft Law also provides that persons who own property in immovable property have the right and obligation to remove it from the premises within seven days, and the property remaining after this period is considered ownerless property that belongs to the State of Latvia, and the Cabinet of Ministers decides on its further disposal. The Draft Law also obliges interested persons to re-register legal addresses registered on immovable property.
The transitional provision of the draft law stipulates that the Cabinet of Ministers shall submit a report to the Saeima on the further disposal of immovable property by March 31, 2024. The further disposal should take into account the possibility of using the property to assist Ukraine or Ukrainians, taking into account that Latvia has no purpose to enrich itself or benefit from the immovable property.