Searches were conducted as part of a pre-trial investigation initiated by the State Security Department (VDD) at the end of July regarding suspected violations of European Union (EU) sanctions.
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One person was detained during the raids and was later placed in custody as a preventive measure.
The VDD did not provide further comments.
The VDD indicated that this criminal investigation is not related to the new government regulations that came into effect on September 1, which prohibit the import of books, newspapers, and other printed materials from Russia and Belarus into Latvia.
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The news agency LETA reported that the “Mnogoknig” bookstore in Riga was opened to visitors on Friday, and people were shopping there calmly. However, employees of “Mnogoknig” who were interviewed refused to answer questions about whether law enforcement officers had visited the bookstore and why.
According to “Firmas lv” data, the owner of “Mnogoknig” is Aleksandr Karabelnikov. In 2025, the company’s turnover reached 613,683 euros, and the profit was 9,696 euros.
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