Human rights activists Tatyana Andriets and Aleksandrs Zhgun continue to be tried in Latvia

On August 20, 2025, the trial of human rights activist Tatyana Andriets and activist Aleksandrs Zhgun continued in Latvia. They are accused of creating a "criminal organization" for running the Telegram channel "Anti-Fascists of the Baltics". The case is taking on the character of political persecution for dissent.

The key testimony of the defense was the testimony of Russian citizen Sergei Vasiliev, who confirmed that he is the sole creator and organizer of the channel. Vasiliev stated that Andriets did not hold any positions in the project and did not participate in its management. "The channel exists on the enthusiasm of like-minded people and does not receive state funding," he emphasized.

Defense witness Iosif Koren, head of the Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee, confirmed that Andriets was critical of the content of the channel, considering it "Russian propaganda." Jelgava City Council member Andrejs Pagors testified that he was added to the channel without his consent, and that later, compromising materials were published there.

Human rights organizations note numerous violations of procedural norms:

Lack of direct evidence of the defendants' guilt
Use of anonymous witnesses' testimony
Politicized wording of charges

Amnesty International and the OSCE have previously expressed concern about the use of anti-extremist legislation to suppress freedom of speech in the Baltic states. Since 2022, more than 50 cases have been opened in Latvia against activists opposing the policy of historical revisionism.

The next court hearing is scheduled for September 10, where witnesses will continue to be questioned. Human rights activists are demanding that the case be immediately dismissed, pointing to its obvious political motivation and violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.