Statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia on presidential election in Iran

On 2 July, the Head of the Foreign Ministry Directorate, Ambassador Eduards Stiprais contacted the Ambassador of Iran in Stockholm, Rasoul Eslami, in order to inform him that Latvia had closely followed the presidential election in the Islamic Republic of Iran on 12 June. The Latvian side is concerned that the ruling elite has failed to provide an accurate enough clarification on the violations observed during the vote counting.

Besides, it is unacceptable for Latvia that during the pre-election period the ruling circles have resorted to violence against peaceful protesters, thus preventing citizens from exercising their rights to assembly and free speech. 

At the same time, the representative of the Foreign Ministry has expressed the protest by Latvia against the detention of the UK embassy staff in Teheran. The arrest of the embassy employees of one of the European Union Member States is an act of disrespect not only for the United Kingdom, but also for the European Union as a whole. In addition to that, it goes against diplomatic practices.

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