Tatjana Ždanoka

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Tatjana Ždanoka
MEP
Ždanoka in 2012
Member of the European Parliament
In office
2 July 2019 – 15 July 2024
ConstituencyLatvia
In office
20 July 2004 – 4 March 2018
ConstituencyLatvia
Member of the Supreme Council of Latvia
In office
3 May 1990 – 6 July 1993
Personal details
Born
Tatjana Hesina

(1950-05-08) 8 May 1950 (age 74)
ForHRUL
(2007–2014)
Spouse
Aleksandr Zhdanok
​
​
(m. 1975; div. 1988)​
Latvian State University
OccupationPolitician • Mathematician
DegreeDoctor of mathematics
Awards

Tatjana Ždanoka[3] (Russian: Татьяна Аркадьевна Жданок, Tatyana Arkadyevna Zhdanok; born 8 May 1950) is a Latvian politician and a Member of the European Parliament. She is co-chairwoman of the Latvian Russian Union and its predecessor parties (Equal Rights and For Human Rights in a United Latvia) since 1993. In 2024 she was accused of being a Russian intelligence agent since at least 2004.[4][5][6][7]

From 1988 to 1989 she was one of the leaders of the Interfront, a political front organization opposing Latvia's independence from the Soviet Union and rapid market reforms. She remained active in the Communist Party of Latvia after January 1991, when the party leadership called for a coup against the government of the Latvian SSR (in opposition to a restoration of independence). In 1997, Ždanoka was elected to Riga municipal council, but was deprived of the mandate in the Council in 1999 and is prohibited from further nomination for election to the Latvian Parliament or local councils under Latvian law due to her former allegiance with the Communist Party after January 1991. Together with Alfrēds Rubiks, she is in the peculiar position of being restricted to European Parliament elections only.[8] Government documents from 2024 linked her to the Russian FSB.[4][9]

Biography

Tatyana Khesin was born in 1950 in

Latvian Jewish-Russian origin. Much of Ždanoka's paternal family was killed by the Latvian Auxiliary Police in 1941 during the Holocaust.[10]
In 1975, she married Aleksandr Zhdanok, whom she divorced in the late 1980s.

In 1972, Ždanoka graduated from the

Latvian State University with a degree in mathematics and started teaching mathematics at the university until 1990. In 1980, she gained the Candidate of Sciences degree in physics and mathematics and in 1992 a Doctor of Sciences degree in mathematics, both from the Latvian State University.[11]

After the restoration of the independence of Latvia, Ždanoka applied for Latvian citizenship through

anti-Semitism.[12]

Political career

Latvian politics (1988–2004)

Ždanoka became politically active in the late 1980s during the

Latvian SSR. From 1971 to 1991 Ždanoka was also a member of the Communist Party of Latvia,[11] but maintains she was "not part of the party hierarchy."[12]

From 1995 till 2004 Ždanoka was co-chairwoman of the

For Human Rights in United Latvia alliance.[14]

In 1999, Ždanoka was banned from running for the Latvian parliament

Latvian SSR in January 1991.[11] Subsequently, she sued Latvia in the European Court of Human Rights.[11] Ždanoka argued that the Communist Party was still legal until September 1991 and she had remained because she believed the Communist Party would be part of the democratic, multi-party system and "considered it dishonest to leave one's party because of hard times."[12]

Member of the European parliament (2004–2018)

With the court case pending, the Latvian parliament decided not to impose restrictions on former members of the Communist Party in the

occupation of Latvia had not been sufficiently taken into account, and on March 16, 2006, the court ruled 13-4 that Ždanoka's rights had not been violated.[16]

In 2004, she ran successfully for MEP as a candidate of the largest Russian political bloc in Latvia[14] becoming a member of the Greens–European Free Alliance fraction in the European Parliament.[17] In 2005, Ždanoka became one of the founders of the EU Russian-Speakers' Alliance.[18] She also won a seat in 2009.[8]

On 11 March 2014, Ždanoka and her party organized a rally at the European Commission Representation in Riga in support of the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, with about 200 participants.[19] In May, Ždanoka proposed European Council to classify Ukrainian political bloc Right Sector as a terrorist organization.[20] In response, Ukrainian Congress of Latvia petitioned Ministry of Justice of Latvia to declare the political activities of Ždanoka and her party as anti-constitutional.[21]

A submission was made by another Latvian MEP,

USSR.[22] The application of Šadurskis was rejected by Security Police who did not find a crime in Ždanoka's actions.[23]

In 2016, Ždanoka voted against the European Parliament resolution of 23 November that condemned the use of disinformation and

Russia Today and form their own opinion of the channel.[25]

Return to Latvian politics (2018–2019)

In January 2018 Ždanoka left European Parliament and returned to Latvian politics with the intention of running in the

Vidzeme Region, but was removed from the list of candidates by Latvia's Central Election Commission on the same basis that barred her from running in 1999.[27][28] Ždanoka contested it in the Administrative District Court, but the court upheld the decision made by the Central Election Commission.[29][30] Ždanoka applied to the European Court of Human Rights, which communicated her application to the Latvian government in 2021.[31]

Member of the European parliament (2019-2024)

In the 2019 European Parliament election her party received 6.24% of the votes, which gave it one seat at the European Parliament that, again, was filled by Ždanoka who personally received 18,098 plusses and was crossed out 739 times.[32] She started serving as vice-chairperson in the Petitions Committee and replacement member in the Employment and Public Affairs Committee and named youth and pre-pension employment, adoption of benefits for young families and equalization of social rights in the European Union as her priorities.[33]

On 2 March 2022, she was one of 13 MEPs who voted against condemning the

group.[35][36] On 13 May, Ždanoka and six other people were detained in the Riga Town Hall Square [lv] at an unauthorized protest against the demolition of the Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders.[37]

On 15 September 2022, she was one of 16 MEPs who voted against condemning President Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua for human rights violations, in particular the arrest of Bishop Rolando Álvarez.[38][39]

Views

Ždanoka has described herself as a

accession of Latvia to the European Union believing that "complete acceptance of the EU's rules would lead to the destruction of our industry and agriculture" and that Latvia should be a "financial bridge between the East and the West" but gave up her Euroscepticism after attending the 2000 New European Left Forum in Sweden. Ždanoka still continues opposing NATO and advocates for the Baltic region to retain its "historical closeness to Russia" as a way to avoid the "destruction of Russia and the whole region".[12]

Ždanoka said that during the

European Union, pointing to the 9 million EU citizens who are native Russian speakers in the Baltic states and Southeast Europe.[40]

Criticism

In 2020, Ždanoka, alongside her party members

separatist areas in Ukraine.[41]

On March 5, 2019, State Security Service (SSS) launched a criminal procedure over incitement to ethnic hatred or discord for Ždanoka's remarks at a discussion organized by her at the European Parliament, where she likened the situation of ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in Latvia to Jews prior the World War II.[42][43] The case was terminated by the SSS in 2020, for absence of any crime in Ždanoka's remarks.[44]

Ždanoka's participation in the controversial

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs, with Ministry's press secretary Kārlis Eihenbaums pointing out that Ždanoka did not to represent Latvia nor the EU, as she did not have any official authorization from either.[48]

In 2024, a report from an investigative journalism website The Insider accused Ždanoka of being a spy for Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) since at least 2004.[49][50][51]

References

  1. ^ "Home | Tatjana ŽDANOKA | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 1950-05-08. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  2. ^ "Home | Tatjana ŽDANOKA | MEPs | European Parliament". www.europarl.europa.eu. 1950-05-08. Retrieved 2024-06-10.
  3. ^ "Ždanoka Tatjana, LRU co-chairwoman". Latvian Russian Union. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  4. ^ a b Grozev, Christo; Weiss, Michael; Dobrokhotov, Roman (2024-01-29). "Exclusive: Latvian Member of European Parliament is an agent of Russian intelligence, leaked emails confirm". The Insider. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Latvian MEP is Russian intelligence agent – investigation". lrt.lt. 2024-01-29. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  6. ^ Service, s Russian (2024-01-29). "Latvian Member Of European Parliament Reportedly Leaked Information To Russian Intelligence". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  7. ^ "AfD-Skandal um Schmiergeld und Spionage weitet sich aus – Putin-Spion in Bundestag". www.t-online.de (in German). 2024-05-25. Retrieved 2024-06-06.
  8. ^ a b Näf, Kaspar (June 11, 2009). "The European elections strengthened Russians of Latvian" (in Estonian). Postimees. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  9. ^ Tjoflot, Eirin (2024-01-31). "EU-politikar var russisk agent". NRK (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Retrieved 2024-02-10.
  10. ISBN 978-0-300-06078-2
    . p. 442.
  11. ^ a b c d "Tatyana Zhdanok". Russians of Latvia. Institute of the Russian heritage of Latvia. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  12. ^ a b c d e Coleman, Nick (May 17, 2001). "Most stubborn survivor speaks out". The Baltic Times. Retrieved April 8, 2005.
  13. ^ "Tatjana ŽDANOKA". European Parliament. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  14. ^
    Eurasia Daily Monitor. 1 (16). Jamestown Foundation
    . Retrieved April 8, 2005.
  15. ^ Eglitis, Aaron (July 1, 2004). "Zdanoka wins case in human rights court". The Baltic Times. Retrieved April 8, 2005.
  16. ^ ECtHR Grand Chamber judgment in Ždanoka v. Latvia para. 135
  17. ^ a b Peach, Gary (28 March 2012). "Eastern outsider". Politico. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  18. ^ Sergeeva, Natalya (February 10, 2006). "Website of Russian Alliance presented" (in Russian). Delfi. Retrieved February 23, 2006.
  19. ^ "Zdanoka promotes Soviet manifesto". The Baltic Times. March 19, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  20. ^ "European Parliament Mulls Putting Right Sector on Terrorism List". Novinite. May 7, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  21. ^ "Ukrainian community deeply worried". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  22. ^ "Security Police investigates Latvian Pro-Kremlin MEP". Baltic News Network. April 3, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  23. ^ "No criminal charges to be filed against Zdanoka". The Baltic Times. March 29, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  24. ^ "UPDATED: Latvia's MEPs split on Russian propaganda threat". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. November 25, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  25. ^ "Zdanoka leaps to the defense of Russia Today". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. November 25, 2016. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  26. ^ "Ždanoka quits Brussels to run Saeima campaign for party". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. January 15, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  27. ^ "Russian Union leader Ždanoka nixed from Saeima elections". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 21 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  28. ^ "Latvia's Russian Union leader Zdanoka barred from running in Saeima elections". The Baltic Times. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  29. ^ "No Saeima election run for Ždanoka". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. LETA. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  30. ^ "Court upholds Central Election Commission's decision banning Zdanoka from running in Saeima elections". The Baltic Times. September 4, 2018. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  31. ^ Ždanoka v. Latvia European Court of Human Rights
  32. ^ "European Parliament election results announced in Latvia". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 27 May 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  33. ^ "Latvian MEPs explain their priorities in European Parliament committees". Baltic News Network. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  34. ^ "Latvian MEP refuses to condemn Russian invasion of Ukraine". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  35. ^ Konohovs, Artjoms (5 April 2022). "Ždanoka out in the cold in European Parliament". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Tatyana Zhdanok kicked from MEP group for not condemning Russian aggression". Baltic News Network. April 5, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  37. ^ Zvirbulis, Ģirts; Feldmanis, Kristaps (13 May 2022). "MEP detained at unauthorized protest in Rīga". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  38. ^ "European Parliament condemns growing repression of Catholic Church in Nicaragua, calls for release of bishop".
  39. ^ "Nicaragua, in particular the arrest of the bishop Rolando Álvarez" (PDF).
  40. ^ Rettman, Andrew (February 15, 2012). "Latvia vote poses question on Russian as EU language". EUobserver. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
  41. ^ "Five Latvian politicians named as 'politically biased election observers'". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. July 3, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2020.
  42. ^ "Security Service starts case over Ždanoka's remarks in EP discussion". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. LETA. March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  43. ^ "State Security Service starts criminal procedure over Zdanoka's remarks in European Parliament discussion". The Baltic Times. March 6, 2019. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  44. DELFI
  45. ^ Rozenberga, Māra (November 24, 2015). "MEP's visit to Crimea paid for by European Parliament". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  46. ^ "EP President scolds Soviet relic for Crimea posture". Public Broadcasting of Latvia. September 26, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  47. ^ "Soviet relic Zdanoka reprimanded by EP President Schulz". The Baltic Times. September 29, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  48. ^ "Zdanoka's actions 'unacceptable,' says Harms". The Baltic Times. September 30, 2014. Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  49. ^ "Exclusive: Latvian Member of European Parliament is an agent of Russian intelligence, leaked emails confirm".
  50. ^ "New investigation alleges Latvian member of European Parliament has secretly worked for Russian FSB for 20 years".
  51. Irish Times
    . Retrieved 29 January 2024.
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