On April 16, 2025, in the trial of Alexander Malnach, accused of violating the sanctions imposed on Dmitry Kiselev in 2014, there was a change of prosecutor, reports independent journalist Alla Berezovskaya. Ms. Griquet has been replaced by Ms. Broca. The former led the process from 2020, but after five years stopped participating in the case. Now all evidence and conclusions will be presented by her colleagues.
Ms. Broka is known in the journalistic community for the case of Yuri Alekseev. She accused Alekseev of breaking the law and secured a sentence of 14 months' imprisonment.
Today's hearing was scheduled to include a debate of the parties. However, only the prosecution, represented by Ms. Broka, spoke at first. She reminded that the defendant had not admitted his guilt.
Alexander Malnach stated that he did not transfer any economic resources either directly or indirectly, including to Dmitry Kiselev, 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 Malnach knew about the sanctions violation. The State Security Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been brought in as experts to argue that the director general of the Russian state agency solely controlled 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 Malnacs 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, Mrs. Broka asked the court to punish him with a fine of 11 minimum wages (about 8 thousand euros).
The next court hearing is scheduled for June 25 this year. It will include the defense lawyer's speech and Aliaksandr Malnach's closing remarks.
Ms. Broka is known in the journalistic community for the case of Yuri Alekseev. She accused Alekseev of breaking the law and secured a sentence of 14 months' imprisonment.
Today's hearing was scheduled to include a debate of the parties. However, only the prosecution, represented by Ms. Broka, spoke at first. She reminded that the defendant had not admitted his guilt.
Alexander Malnach stated that he did not transfer any economic resources either directly or indirectly, including to Dmitry Kiselev, 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 Malnach knew about the sanctions violation. The State Security Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have been brought in as experts to argue that the director general of the Russian state agency solely controlled 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 Malnacs 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, Mrs. Broka asked the court to punish him with a fine of 11 minimum wages (about 8 thousand euros).
The next court hearing is scheduled for June 25 this year. It will include the defense lawyer's speech and Aliaksandr Malnach's closing remarks.