Fact-checkers: politicians' stance on Russian grain transit shifts ahead of elections

As elections approach, the issue of Russian grain transit has resurfaced in Latvia's political discourse. The "Re:Baltica" fact-checking project "Re:Check" examined how the rhetoric of several parties on this topic has evolved over time.

From support to rejection

According to "Re:Check", both "Jaunā Vienotība" and the Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) now say, at least in words, that they support restricting Russian grain transit through Latvia. This marks a reversal from these same parties' earlier position, when they had rejected such restrictions, arguing they would be unlawful and would harm African countries dependent on grain imports.

New rhetoric during the pre-election period

Fact-checkers note that politicians now speak of the same transit in starkly different terms, calling it "bloody" and promising to stop it. This shift in language and position coincides with the pre-election period, when parties are seeking to win voter support.

"Re:Check" is a project that specializes in verifying politicians' statements and promises, comparing them against prior declarations and actual conduct. In this case, the project focused specifically on the inconsistency in rhetoric surrounding an issue that touches both Latvia's foreign policy and economic interests tied to the transit sector.

The question of Russian grain transit through Latvian territory and ports has long been a subject of debate, given both international obligations and security considerations in the context of the war in Ukraine. The "Re:Check" investigation shows that political parties' positions on this matter have not remained constant, and that the change has unfolded during the course of the pre-election campaign.