Professor Gushchin's arrest in Riga was extended for another two months

On April 20, 2026, a Riga court extended the pretrial detention of 68-year-old Doctor of History and Professor Viktor Gushchin. The scholar has been in custody since mid-December 2025.

The criminal case against Gushchin was opened by the Latvian State Security Service on November 26, 2025. In early April, the case was transferred to the prosecutor's office. The professor is accused of violating European Union sanctions (Article 84.1 of the Latvian Criminal Code). The charges stem from his publications on a Russian internet portal. Intelligence agencies believe this resource is linked to a foundation under EU sanctions. However, human rights activists note that the portal itself is not officially included on the sanctions list, and the articles were published more than two years ago.

Human rights organizations are drawing attention to the disproportionate nature of the pretrial detention. Professor Gushchin is an elderly scientist suffering from diabetes and is the caregiver of a 95-year-old mother who requires nursing care. His public activities have always been limited to regional studies and advocacy for the rights of Russian-speaking residents of Latvia. There can be no talk of escape or destruction of evidence.

Human rights activists consider this case to be politically motivated prosecution. The scientist has been held in prison for almost six months for publications that did not violate the law at the time of their publication. Appeals from his defense and international human rights organizations to the Latvian authorities have gone unanswered. The extension of his detention once again demonstrates that age, health, and the absence of a real public danger are irrelevant to the Latvian judicial system when it comes to a Russian-speaking public figure who is unpopular with the authorities.