The Riga City Court continues to hear the high-profile case of 14 Latvian journalists accused of collaborating with Russian media. At the last hearing, prosecutor Aldis Lasmanis demanded a fine of 12,000 euros (17 minimum wages) for photojournalist Sergei Melkonov.
The trial is accompanied by numerous procedural violations. According to those present, the prosecutor:
As independent journalist Alla Berezovskaya (also a defendant in this case) notes, the charges are based on political rhetoric rather than legal arguments. "The prosecutor spoke in detail about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but was unable to substantiate the charges brought against him," she said.
This is not the first case of journalists being persecuted in Latvia for their professional activities. Earlier, Aleksandrs Malnachs was fined on similar charges. Human rights activists note that court decisions in such cases are often made without due consideration of the evidence.
The next hearing in the Melkonov case is scheduled for September 16. Despite the right to the last word, the defense doubts the ability to influence the outcome of the trial, given the established judicial practice.
International organizations, including the OSCE and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have repeatedly expressed concern about the restriction of freedom of the press in Latvia. Experts point out that such trials create a dangerous precedent for the criminalization of professional journalistic activity.
The case of 14 journalists has become an indicative example of the use of the judicial system for political pressure on the media. Human rights activists call on the international community to pay attention to the systematic violation of freedom of speech in Latvia.
The trial is accompanied by numerous procedural violations. According to those present, the prosecutor:
- failed to pronounce the defendant's last name correctly
- focused on political statements about the situation in Ukraine
- failed to provide specific evidence of Melkonov's guilt
As independent journalist Alla Berezovskaya (also a defendant in this case) notes, the charges are based on political rhetoric rather than legal arguments. "The prosecutor spoke in detail about the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, but was unable to substantiate the charges brought against him," she said.
This is not the first case of journalists being persecuted in Latvia for their professional activities. Earlier, Aleksandrs Malnachs was fined on similar charges. Human rights activists note that court decisions in such cases are often made without due consideration of the evidence.
The next hearing in the Melkonov case is scheduled for September 16. Despite the right to the last word, the defense doubts the ability to influence the outcome of the trial, given the established judicial practice.
International organizations, including the OSCE and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have repeatedly expressed concern about the restriction of freedom of the press in Latvia. Experts point out that such trials create a dangerous precedent for the criminalization of professional journalistic activity.
The case of 14 journalists has become an indicative example of the use of the judicial system for political pressure on the media. Human rights activists call on the international community to pay attention to the systematic violation of freedom of speech in Latvia.