Latvia should consider closing Russian Embassy in Riga to curb spying activities - expert

RIGA - After the recent exchange of prisoners between Western countries and Russia, the Latvian Foreign Service should consider closing the Russian Embassy in Riga to curb the activities of Russian spies, Sandis Sraders, a researcher at the Latvian Institute of International Affairs and lecturer at the Baltic Defence College, told LETA.

The expert stressed that such cases are not uncommon in the US foreign policy, which is oriented towards the liberation of its citizens from prisons in other countries. Such prisoner exchanges have taken place recently also with Iran, by paying out USD 6 billion in frozen Iranian assets. A similar exchange of prisoners took place after the Iranian revolution in 1979.

"It is difficult to call relations diplomatic when they are based on already accepted standards for the release of Western prisoners from Iranian jails, where negotiating rhetoric and material compensation are common practice. In the West's relations with Russia, this practice shows the limits of diplomatic relations, because diplomatic relations do not exist and are not possible," Sraders said.

In his view, this is a signal that it is time for those countries that Russia considers unfriendly  to close the Russian embassies for the sake of the security of its diplomats and citizens, because diplomacy "has long exhausted itself and normal relations with Russia will be possible after several generations", i.e., after the Russian army loses the war against Ukraine and all the occupied territories, including in Georgia, are liberated.

According to the expert, the Latvian Foreign Service should also seriously consider closing the Russian embassy in Riga in order to limit the activities of spies operating in Latvia and other Baltic countries. In his opinion, Latvia would only benefit from the measure, as diplomatic relations can be restored once Russia has become a "normal" country that respects international law.

In Sraders' view, the prisoner exchange between the West and Russia was based solely on Russian interests, which resulted in the Kremlin retrieving the Russians captured in the West,  including members of Russian special services. Sraders also noted that Russia has never cared for its own citizens, because a person in this country, whether a citizen or a representative of another country, has no value at all. In his view, this is evidenced by Russia's treatment of its own citizens, who are sent to war unprepared and untrained.

Srader explained that for the West, it was important to recover its own citizens, as well as dual Russian citizens and members the democratic opposition, to reunite families and to rescue prisoners from Russian jails where death or torture is common practice.

He concluded that this was good news for Russian spies and special services, because they could be sure that their country would take care of them when they were caught committing espionage crimes in the West. In Sraders' view, this is an encouragement to Russian spies who are in the West and doing their job for Russia. Even those spies who are being trained for military tasks can feel confident that the Kremlin will take care of them.

"Russian citizens, most of them loyal to the regime, can still enter the EU via Hungary or other countries that have unfortunately not fully prevented Russian citizens from entering Europe after more than two years of Russia's war against Ukraine," the expert said.

Asked if the West and Russia can agree on a prisoner swap and whether there is also a possibility for talks on a ceasefire in Ukraine, Sraders said that a ceasefire in relations between the West, Ukraine and Russia could certainly be in Russia's interest, as it would give Russia time to amass new resources for more hostilities against Ukraine and possibly also some Western countries.

Sraders believes that the West should not see a pause in the war as an opportunity, but should instead heed long-standing signals. The expert drew attention to the fact that Russia, Communist China, Iran and North Korea are becoming ever closer partners and allies. The US, Europe and allies such as Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia and others need to think urgently about making substantial investments in their security, especially in the military and technological sectors, as the emergence of such an alliance poses an existential threat to them. 

As reported, last Thursday, 26 prisoners were exchanged between Western countries and Russia in the Turkish capital Ankara.