‘Smoke Screen’: Latvia Rejects Russia’s Claim of Rights Violations Against Ethnic Russians

Latvia’s foreign ministry has dismissed Moscow’s threat to take the Baltic states to the International Court of Justice over alleged mistreatment of ethnic Russians as a deliberate distraction tactic, calling it one of the oldest tools in Russia’s arsenal.

Russia’s foreign ministry recently announced it would bring a case against Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia before the ICJ, accusing the three governments of violating the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination through what it described as systematic persecution of Russian-speaking populations. Suspilne reports that Riga has responded with a pointed rebuttal, framing the move as a propaganda operation rather than a genuine legal grievance.

Riga’s Response

Latvia’s foreign ministry was unambiguous in its assessment. In an official comment provided to Suspilne, the ministry described Russia’s threats as “another example of Russia’s desperate reaction to our determination — determination to remain true to our values: human rights, the rules-based international order, and a just peace in Ukraine.” The ministry called the move “a smoke screen — one of the oldest tricks in Russia’s arsenal.”

The statement went further, accusing Russian leadership of “flagrantly disregarding and violating international law in order to advance its own aggressive foreign policy and colonial vision of how events should unfold.”

A Pattern of Lawfare and Disinformation

Latvia’s ministry framed Russia’s ICJ threat not as an isolated legal manoeuvre but as part of a broader strategy of undermining the Baltic states through multiple channels simultaneously. According to the statement, Russia “abuses international law to undermine the security and stability of neighbouring countries, the sovereignty and democratic legitimacy of the Baltic states” — while at the same time running “large-scale and cynical disinformation campaigns, distorting historical facts and spreading false narratives” to deflect attention from its own conduct and damage the region’s democratic institutions and international reputation.

The ministry concluded by reaffirming Latvia’s commitment to its international obligations, describing Riga as “a reliable international partner, a principled defender of human rights and the rules-based international order.”