Kulbergs: No Personal Fear Over Russian Threats

Latvian Prime Minister Kulbergs said after a meeting with President Edgars Rinkēvičs that he is not afraid for his life. The question put to both officials concerned alleged assassination attempts being investigated in Poland against Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, which has raised the issue of officials' security in Latvia as well.

Kulbergs' explanation

The prime minister stressed that he works for his country with the best intentions and in its best interests. At the same time, he acknowledged that Russia knows how to make threats. In his view, the aim is simple: to make Europe stop supporting Ukraine by sowing fear, uncertainty and anxiety among the public. Kulbergs believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is himself frightened, because Russia is not faring well at the front, so other means are being used elsewhere in Europe.

Rinkēvičs' position

Rinkēvičs agreed that officials who take up high office also accept certain risks. He did not comment on the Polish case at length, saying that the results of the investigation by Poland's responsible authorities should be awaited.

Events in Poland

On 11 October, a suspect was detained in Poland in the investigation. Tusk announced on the platform X that the man who had threatened an attack had been detained, and praised the police for their quick and decisive action. The same day, Poland's Interior Ministry said police had received information from the State Protection Service about a possible assassination of the prime minister and the defence minister. Jacek Dobrzyński, press spokesman for the minister coordinating special services, said the authorities considered it highly likely that the threats could have been carried out.