Russia's MFA: Latvia’s "European values" cost it industry, sovereignty

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has blamed Latvia’s adoption of “European values” for the loss of its industrial base and sovereignty, commenting on the planned closure of the Latvian power-tool manufacturer Rebir.

Zakharova said Rebir had lost its main sales markets in Russia and Belarus because of sanctions and is expected to shut down by the end of the year, Russian media reports.

“Everyone who has chosen ‘European values’ has become a servant of the European Union, having lost their industry, agriculture, education and sovereignty,” Zakharova said.

Rebir, based in the Latvian city of Rēzekne, manufactures power tools. According to the company’s chairman, Nikolai Simorev, sanctions against Russia and Belarus caused the loss of its main markets.

Simorev said the company had attempted to find alternative export markets, but those efforts had not produced results.

By Sabina Mammadli