Latvia has become the first European country to ban the import of Russian consumer goods — including books and printed media — framing the move as protection against Kremlin disinformation and hybrid warfare.
According to Latvia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ban on importing books, newspapers, and other printed materials from Russia and Belarus has been in effect since September 1, citing “disinformation and military propaganda.” The ban also covers clothing, toys, and sports equipment. The ministry stated that the goal is to “reduce economic ties with the aggressor states” and “strengthen society’s resilience to threats in the information space.” Latvia, a member of NATO and the EU that borders both Russia and Belarus, has firmly supported Ukraine since 2022.
Riga says it has faced ongoing “hybrid attacks” from Moscow since then — including cyberattacks, drone incursions, and disinformation campaigns. About a quarter of Latvia’s population identifies as ethnic Russian. While overall imports from Russia and Belarus have fallen by around 91% since the war began, books and printed materials have remained one of the largest categories of goods still being imported from Russia.
Latvia has already scrapped VAT tax breaks for Russian-language publications and has begun reducing the teaching of Russian in schools, citing the need to counter Kremlin influence. The decision comes amid rising tensions with Moscow: in May, Russia announced plans to file a case against Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia at the International Court of Justice, accusing them of violating the rights of Russian-speaking residents. The Baltic states reject these accusations, instead accusing Moscow of exploiting the ethnic minority to stoke regional tensions.
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