Published on 07/09/2026 – 15:04 GMT+2•Updated 15:07
Latvia has imposed a ban on the import of books, newspapers, and other printed materials from Russia and Belarus, citing “disinformation and war propaganda” as the motive, the country’s foreign ministry announced on Monday. The move underscores broader concerns among EU and NATO members about managing information warfare emanating from Moscow.
The ministry stated that the import ban is intended to safeguard Latvia’s security interests and further curtail economic ties with Russia and Belarus, which continue to wage and support the war of aggression against Ukraine.
As a NATO and EU member sharing borders with both Russia and Belarus, Latvia has consistently aligned with Kyiv since Russia’s full‑scale invasion in 2022. The government reports having endured continuous “hybrid attacks” from Moscow since the conflict began, encompassing cyber‑operations, drone incursions, and disinformation campaigns, prompting substantial investments in national security amid concerns it could be a future target for the Kremlin.
Latvia’s demographic profile includes a sizable Russian‑speaking community, with roughly a quarter of the population identifying as ethnic Russian, according to official data.
Effective since 1 September, the ban marks the first European restriction of its kind on Russian consumer goods, extending beyond printed materials to include clothing, toys, and sports equipment. Latvian authorities said the initiative seeks to “strengthen societal resilience and reduce vulnerabilities in the information space.”
Overall imports from Russia and Belarus have dropped by about 91 % since the war’s onset, according to the foreign ministry. Nevertheless, books and printed materials continue to represent one of the largest remaining consumer‑goods import categories from Russia, the ministry noted.
In related measures, Latvia has eliminated VAT incentives for Russian‑language publishing within the country and curtailed Russian‑language instruction in schools, aiming to counter Kremlin influence and facilitate the integration of Russian‑speaking residents.
The decision follows heightened tensions between Moscow and the Baltic states. In May, Russia announced plans to bring Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia before the International Court of Justice over alleged violations of Russian‑speaker rights—a claim the three nations reject. They counter that Moscow is exploiting the sizable Russian minority, which expanded during Soviet rule, to fuel regional discord.