Once again, we have to state that an appalling violation of a Russian journalist’s rights has been committed by Latvian authorities.

Today, Ella Taranova, a chief producer at the Rossiya Segodnya International Information Agency, who arrived in Riga to attend the Baltic Forum conference, was detained by border service officers during the above-mentioned event. The possible reason for that is the fact that her name is on the so-called “black lists” drawn up by the relevant Latvian agencies. According to our information, Ella Taranova will be deported to Russia within hours.

This deplorable incident fully fits into the canvas of anti-Russian sanctions aimed to suppress dissent and restrict the freedom of articulating opinions differing from the official viewpoint of Latvian mass media. The existence of “black lists” with a journalist’s professional position serving as a criterion for being included in them is inadmissible in a democratic state and contradicts all international obligations on guaranteeing the freedom of speech.