The Latvian prosecutor's office has accused former Seimas MP Reinis Znotins of inciting ethnic hatred, the Delfi news agency reported.
In July 2023, the politician got into a conflict with his Russian-speaking neighbors while intoxicated. He called them "vadniks" and threatened to expel them from the country.
The criminal case has been transferred to court, and the hearing is scheduled for June 5. The prosecutor's office accuses the former MP of committing acts aimed at inciting ethnic hatred, as well as publishing a misleading post on social networks. Znotins is also accused of "inflicting minor bodily harm in connection with a neighborly conflict". The case will be heard in the Riga City Court. It is specified that the suspect hit the victim at least three times.
In August 2023, it was reported that Znotins was brought to administrative responsibility for petty hooliganism, as he provoked his Russian-speaking neighbor. He threatened him with expulsion from the country, insulted him and tried to present him as an aggressor.
The politician wrote on his social networks that his Russian-speaking neighbor almost strangled him because he asked him to speak Latvian. The police arrived at the scene, but did not side with Znotins, an administrative case was opened against him with a penalty in the form of a warning or a fine of up to 500 euros.