Baltic States – CIS, Financial Services, Funds, Legislation, Russia

According to "Re:Baltica", the Kremlin's money in the Baltics ends up in the hands of a small but very distinctive group. The local security authorities have identified these persons as the ones who help Russia pursue its policies in the Baltic countries. These persons have no other sources of financing to speak of but grants, part of which they receive from Russia. 68% of the recipients are associated with low-profile pro-Kremlin political parties in the Baltic countries. In Latvia, representatives of these organizations donate large amounts of money to such parties, therefore it cannot be ruled out that the Kremlin's money also goes to political parties' coffers, indicates "Re:Baltica".

Latvian Security Police's Chief Normunds Mezviets told "Re:Baltica" that the main function of the organizations in Latvia that are supported by Russia is to try to change the public opinion about Russia. "They are used as agents of influence, and their task is to disseminate various messages to alter public opinion in line with Russia's interests," said Mezviets.

In Latvia, seven of the recipients of funding have clearly indicated this in their declarations, whereas the other three even refuse to talk about the amounts they receive. This group could have received more than EUR 680,000 in three years, "Re:Baltica" has concluded. According to annual reports, the largest amount, EUR 290,000, has been received by "Latvian Human Rights Committee", established by the European Parliament member Tatjana Zdanoka, the official objective of which is to protect the interests of tenants and ethnic minorities.

Another recipient of financing is the Russian historian Valery Engel, who is also involved in the real estate business in Latvia. In the list of the recipients of the Kremlin's money, Engel is mentioned as a representative of the "European Democracy Development Center". This center has received EUR 83,627 from undisclosed sources during the past three years, although there is virtually no information about what the center has been doing in Latvia. Viktor Guschin, the Russian Embassy's main coordinator for the Russian compatriot organizations in Latvia, has received financing as the head of the Baltic Ethnic Studies Center. According to the center's annual reports, it has received EUR 78,133 from various sources in Russia.

Alexander Gaponenko, who is not a citizen of Latvia, represents several NGOs and received money from Russia via the "European Research Center".