UN Complaint on Latvia’s Use of SLAPPs Against Journalist Yuri Alekseev
- JPTi
- Nov 13, 2023
- 2 min read
On 13 November 2023, Justice pour Tous Internationale, in collaboration with the Global Gaze Network, formally submitted a complaint to several United Nations Special Procedures Mandate Holders regarding the grave human rights violations committed against Mr. Yuri Alekseev, a Latvian journalist, blogger, and civic activist.
Mr. Alekseev has been subjected to prolonged and abusive pre-trial restrictions, arbitrary criminal charges under Latvia’s security legislation, seizure of personal and professional devices, financial blacklisting, and invasive surveillance. These violations—ongoing since 23 November 2018—amount to Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), intended to silence dissent and stifle independent journalism.
The complaint, addressed to the Special Rapporteurs on freedom of expression, privacy, and the independence of judges and lawyers, as well as the Working Group on Business and Human Rights, argues that Latvia’s actions contravene multiple provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, including Articles 9, 14, 17, 19, and 26.
Particular concern was raised over the closure of Mr. Alekseev’s longstanding platform, IMHOclub.lv, and the targeting of him for expressing views diverging from official narratives, notably on issues relating to the USSR and the Russia–Ukraine conflict. Latvia's use of vague and disproportionate legislation has created a chilling effect on journalistic freedom, civic engagement, and public discourse—core pillars of a democratic society.
We call upon the United Nations system to take urgent action: to ensure that Mr. Alekseev’s right to liberty and fair trial is upheld, his reputation as a journalist is restored, and Latvia is held accountable for its systematic misuse of state power to suppress media pluralism.
Justice pour Tous Internationale reiterates its unwavering commitment to defending journalists and political dissidents targeted for exercising fundamental freedoms.
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