Russian oligarch changes his mind about suing Latvian FM

Russian oligarch Pyotr Aven has withdrawn his lawsuit against Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže, which had been filed in response to her statements in the newspaper Diena.

The Riga City Court terminated the civil case, as the plaintiff fully withdrew his claim. The decision has not yet taken effect, as it can be appealed within ten days at the Riga Regional Court, the Latvian outlet Delfi reports.

Aven had filed the lawsuit against Braže and the publisher SIA Dienas Bizness, demanding a retraction of false statements that allegedly damaged his honour and dignity, an apology, and compensation for moral damages.

“The plaintiff’s position has not changed even after the case was initiated, because, given Braže’s official position and the fact that Aven is subject to European Union sanctions, he does not want his lawful rights to protect his honor and dignity to be interpreted as an attempt to influence state officials ahead of the next EU sanctions renewal process scheduled for February 2026,” Aven’s statement said.

Earlier, Aven, who holds dual Latvian and Russian citizenship, criticised Braže’s remarks in Diena, in which she called him “the personal banker of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin,” accusing him of corruption and money laundering. The Latvian State Police have already stated that they will not open a criminal case against Braže.

By Khagan Isayev