DISINFO: Latvia provoking a confrontation with Moscow to get economic support from the West
SUMMARY
The reason [glorification of Nazism] behind the ban of journalist Vladimir Solovyov from entry to Latvia was obviously fake.
It is strange that Latvia chooses such a kind of reason. Despite the long-standing consistent Russophobia of Baltic states they used to carefully follow rituals of foreign policy. But this move is a serious deviation from diplomatic norms, even though it was inevitable taken the growing Ukrainisation of the West, which the Baltic states obviously follow.
Latvian authorities want to get some kind of Moscow’s reaction. They improved the degree of provocation until the level of nonsense.
(The confrontation with Moscow) is needed to attract the attention of the Western World. Latvia needed this attention and economical support due to a catastrophic economic situation.
RESPONSE
A recurring pro-Kremlin narrative on Russophobia in the Baltic States and, in particular, in Latvia.
On February 18, 2021, the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed on his Twitter account that Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevic has decided to designate Vladimir Solovyov as a persona non grata who will not be able to visit Latvia for an indefinite period of time. The statement clarified that the decision is based on Section 61(2) of the Immigration Law. As was stated in the message of the Latvian MFA, "glorification of Nazism is unacceptable".
The decision was linked to Solovyov's words about Adolf Hitler. The journalist called him "a “very brave man” while comparing Hitler with the Russian opposition leader, Alexey Navalny, and sharply criticising Navalny.
The statement about the catastrophic economic situation in Latvia is manipulative. The economy of Latvia is affected by the COVID-19 pandemic (as the economies of other states too). Despite it, the prognoses about the recovery of the Latvian economy and further growth of GDP are optimistic.
See similar stories accusing Latvia (and Baltic states) of persecution of Russian media (see cases here and here), alleging that Latvia's main activity is the trade of Russophobia and that Baltics are dependent on the Western World (see cases here and here).