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Anti-Russian sanctions

Protesters in Riga challenge politics which led to trade war with Russia

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Latvia to suffer 55 million euro losses from Russia’s food import embargo

RIGA, August 15. /ITAR-TASS/. A protest act has been staged in Riga on Friday with demonstrators challenging Latvia's foreign policy which led to trade war with Russia.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the building of the Latvian Foreign Ministry in Riga to protest against steps that provoked the trade war "which does not meet the interests of the Latvian population", the protesters said.

"The recent steps taken by the head of the Latvian foreign ministry in the field of international economic contacts and his instructions not to let the three famous Russian artists into Latvia do not meet the interests of the Latvian people in stable development of economic and cultural contacts with Russia," the protesters declared.

The protest act was organized by the Latvian Russian Union.

"It was Latvia that to a great extent provoked Russia to fight back, without realizing what measures Russia might take in retaliation for the sanctions. Latvia's food exports are worth around €53 million. All these foodstuffs will remain in Latvia now, and it will hit food producers and lead to unemployment and wage cuts," the protesters said.

"Retaliatory measures taken by Russia have caused Latvia to suffer. The sanctions have brought no gain to anyone," said one of the organizers of the protest actionYakov Pliner. He defined Latvia's present politics as "Russophobia” which is harmful to Latvia.

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