A Latvian court has ordered the forced return of a fugitive defendant in the "Baltic Anti-Fascists" case

On March 18, 2026, a court hearing was held in Talsi for Tatyana Andriets and Aleksandr Zhgun, accused of creating a criminal organization for their alleged involvement in the "Anti-Fascists of the Baltics" Telegram channel. The hearing was brief and concluded sooner than expected.

Aleksandr Zhgun, who faced up to 20 years in prison in his home country, had previously decided to leave Latvia for Russia, not expecting a fair verdict. Therefore, the judge ordered his forced appearance at the next hearing, scheduled for April 1.

Criminal proceedings against the members of the "Anti-Fascists of the Baltics" Telegram channel were initiated by the Latvian State Security Service on November 28, 2022. Charges have been brought against six individuals, including Tatyana Andriets, Aleksandr Zhgun, Stanislav Bukain, Sergei Vasilyev, Viktorija Matule, and Roman Samul. The most serious charge, under Article 89.1 of the Latvian Criminal Code, carries a sentence of 10 to 20 years in prison.

Human rights activists point out the absurdity of a court ordering the "forced return" of a person who has already left Latvia and is currently in another country. According to journalists, Zhgun arrived in Pskov and was placed in a temporary refugee detention center.

Zhgun himself explained his decision: "After telling everyone at home that I was going fishing, I crossed the threshold of the house for the last time with a heavy heart, closed the door behind me, and left. Only in the morning, already in Russia, did I send my wife a message saying I wouldn't be returning and that I was okay."

Human rights organizations note that the case of the "Baltic Anti-Fascists" is yet another example of politically motivated persecution in Latvia, where criticism of official policies and public activity are considered particularly serious crimes against the state. Zhgun's departure was a forced step by a man who has lost faith in the possibility of a fair trial in his home country. The trial of the second defendant, Tatyana Andriets, who is in a grave psychological state after a lengthy imprisonment, is ongoing.