MEP Ždanoka’s emails indicate that her assistant in the European Parliament was put forward by her contacts in Russia’s security service. 

“Tatyana, hello. This is Dmitry. Our conversation has had results. When do you plan to be in Moscow?” 

^{At an improvised rally in Riga on March 14, 2024, dozens of people demanded an end to the transit of manganese ore, leaving their handprints on a banner to remind of the role of this commodity in weapons production and the killings of Ukrainians. Photo: LETA}

Next week the European Commission will propose a ban on manganese ore shipments to Russia, which can be used in the manufacture of arms. Before EU takes decision, Re:Baltica reports who are the main exporters, who will bear the brunt and why Latvian state companies are still in this business.

^{Liepaja Bulk Terminal’s pier at Liepaja port. Photo: Andris Gertsons, Kurzemes Vards}

Re:Baltica for the first time publishes a list of the largest importers of Russian resources in Latvia since Russia’s full-scale invasion in Ukraine. The main commodities are those shipment of which civil society protests against – grain, oil products and metal alloys.