To guarantee national security, including the prevention and timely averting of threats to a democratic state, on Thursday, 11 January, the Saeima adopted in the final reading urgent draft law on the transfer of ownership of the so-called Moscow House in Riga to the State of Latvia. 

The authors of the draft law from the Parliament’s National Security Committee refer to information provided by the State Security Service, which shows that, ever since its foundation, the Moscow House has been used for supporting various activities aimed at extending the Russian Federation’s influence against the interests of the Republic of Latvia.

Even after 24 February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine, the building has hosted various activities in support of Russia’s aggressive policy. Therefore, Latvia has the duty to take active steps, targeting the existence of a venue for supporting such activities, underlines the draft law.

It is an instrument of Russia’s foreign policy, used for deliberately spreading propaganda to justify its aggressive behaviour and for interpreting history in a pro-Kremlin light. As a democratic state governed by the rule of law, Latvia is duty bound to take special self-defence measures in line with democratic principles, and persons must be prepared to have some of their rights restricted to limit the threat to national security and strengthen the resilience, stability, and effectiveness of the democratic system of government, explains the preamble to the draft law.

The Law provides that the real estate in Riga, Marijas Street 7, is property of the State of Latvia. It will be immediately entered in the Land Register in the name of the State in the person of the Ministry of Transport. The ownership of the Moscow House is to be transferred to the State free from all encumbrances and burdens. The land under the building is already owned by the State in the person of the Ministry of Transport.

Persons whose movable property is located inside the building must remove the property from the premises within seven days after the Law has entered into force. Otherwise, the movable property will be considered ownerless and will devolve to the State of Latvia, provides the draft law.

The State Police will ensure the security and order of the Moscow House and the adjacent territory until the transfer of the building’s ownership to the State. The Cabinet of Ministers is tasked with submitting a report to the Saeima about further actions regarding the real estate by 31 March 2025.

Saeima Press Service