Liepnieks warns of dangerous false sense of security in Latvian society over Russia

On the TV24 program "Preses klubs," political commentator and writer Jurģis Liepnieks and Rūta Dimanta, head of the charity organization Ziedot.lv, discussed how Latvian society perceives the threat posed by Russia.

Liepnieks noted that after years of constant war news from Ukraine, people have grown tired and increasingly view the conflict as something distant that doesn't affect their daily lives. He said this perception is reinforced by statements from state officials claiming there is currently no direct threat to Latvia. Liepnieks stressed that such an approach is not only misguided but dangerous, since real risks don't disappear simply because people stop thinking about them daily — and inadequate preparation could lead to far more serious consequences later.

Crisis readiness

Dimanta emphasized that a false sense of security becomes especially dangerous when it takes hold within state administration and security services. As an example, she pointed to a recent storm that exposed gaps in Latvia's crisis preparedness, including issues with communications and fuel supply.

She drew a parallel with Ukraine, where a similar false sense of security prevailed before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 — despite warnings of a possible attack, part of society still hoped nothing serious would happen.

Balancing vigilance and panic

Dimanta said Latvia needs to find a balance between not stoking unnecessary panic among residents and not ignoring the threats posed by Russia. She said particular attention should be paid to economic relations with Russia, including trade and transit.

According to Dimanta, national security isn't solely about how the state would respond once a military attack begins — national interests must be defended now, at both the diplomatic and legal levels. Otherwise, continued economic cooperation with Russia could become yet another source of false security.