Court Orders Liquidation of Latvia's "Action Party"

The liquidation of the Latvian political party "Rīcības partija" (Action Party) has been initiated, according to a notice in the official gazette "Latvijas Vēstnesis". Data from the company database "Firmas.lv" indicates that the move rests on a ruling by the Riga City Court dated 27 October. As a result, the party will cease to exist as a registered political force.

Board removed

The court decision also removed the party's board from office. It consisted of Einārs Graudiņš, a supporter of Russian compatriot policy; Ruslans Pankratovs, chairman of the association "Latvijas krievu pasaule" (Latvian Russian World), who fled to Russia; and Jevgeņijs Koroļs.

Graudiņš and Pankratovs have repeatedly come to the attention of Latvian security institutions. The State Security Service once carried out a search at Graudiņš's premises, while Pankratovs was charged with incitement of national hatred.

Earlier problems

The news agency LETA's archive shows that the party delayed submitting its annual reports to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) for several years. Because of this, KNAB asked as early as 2021 for the party's activities to be suspended temporarily.

Party history

The legal entity that later became the Action Party was registered in 1998. Until 2004 the movement operated under the name "Esi cilvēks" (Be Human), and it was later also known as "Eurosceptics" and the "Eurosceptics' Action Party".

The party ran several times in elections to the Saeima (Latvia's parliament) and the European Parliament, but never won a seat.