The decision of 30 April by the Russian Federation to deny entry into their country to Māris Baltiņš, Director of the National Language Centre, and Ivars Āboltiņš, Chair of the National Electronic Mass Media Council, is an attempt to exert pressure on Latvia concerning its national language and media policies. We consider this to be unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state. The Foreign Service will not allow such action to pass unnoticed.
Latvia condemns Russia’s decision to ban entry for eight senior officials of European Union Member States and institutions to the Russian Federation.