Latvian human rights defender Alexander Gaponenko who stays detained by the security police of Latvia for several months now, has asked for protection from the International Criminal Court, BaltNews reported. In his message Gaponenko asks to take measures to prevent persecution of official Riga. According to Gaponenko, he doesn't believe in honest investigation. Also, he fears to die in a jail as far as his physical condition has worsened because of a heart disease.
Let us remember, the security police of Latvia has arrested Latvian prominent human rights defender, Co-chairman of the Latvian Non-Citizens Congress and a member of the Russian schools’ protection headquarters Alexander Gaponenko in April this year. He faces up to 8 years imprisonment being charged with pretentious allegations in inciting national hatred.
Gaponenko reminded that he acts as a human rights defender of national minorities in Latvia for 15 years. All these years he is followed by Latvian Security Services. He has marked that he has filed complaints to international institutions several times. Gaponenko says that Latvian authorities chase Russian community leaders for their ethnical, language and religious identity.
Russkiy Mir
