Accused of violating the sanctions imposed on Dmitry Kiselyov in 2014. Aleksandrs Malnacs stated that he did not transfer any economic resources either directly or indirectly, including to Dmitry Kiselyov, who is under sanctions. He emphasized that a Latvian journalist and the general director of an international news agency are different levels and scales of activity.
The prosecutor's office claims that Malnacs knew about the violation of the sanctions. The State Security Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been brought in as experts, who claim that the director general of the Russian state agency had sole control over all operations and profited from them. Consequently, anyone who was near him automatically becomes an infringer from selfish motives.
During several years of work on the Sputnik and Baltnews portals, Malnač received remuneration of 4,500 euros for about 200 publications. The prosecutor's office considers this as evidence of selfish motives. This approach makes it possible to accuse the journalists of committing a serious crime and demand any punishment, from a fine to 4 years of imprisonment.
Taking into account that Malnačs has no previous convictions, is currently unemployed (thanks to the prosecution) and has created an external threat to Latvia (in the context of Russian aggression in Ukraine) by his actions, the prosecutor asked the court to impose a monetary penalty of 11 minimum wages (about 8 thousand euros).
The prosecutor's office claims that Malnacs knew about the violation of the sanctions. The State Security Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been brought in as experts, who claim that the director general of the Russian state agency had sole control over all operations and profited from them. Consequently, anyone who was near him automatically becomes an infringer from selfish motives.
During several years of work on the Sputnik and Baltnews portals, Malnač received remuneration of 4,500 euros for about 200 publications. The prosecutor's office considers this as evidence of selfish motives. This approach makes it possible to accuse the journalists of committing a serious crime and demand any punishment, from a fine to 4 years of imprisonment.
Taking into account that Malnačs has no previous convictions, is currently unemployed (thanks to the prosecution) and has created an external threat to Latvia (in the context of Russian aggression in Ukraine) by his actions, the prosecutor asked the court to impose a monetary penalty of 11 minimum wages (about 8 thousand euros).