The UN special rapporteur accused Latvia of oppression. The Latvian company "I want to help refugees" is subject to repression, threats in the republic, facing the suspension of funding and statements by officials aimed at harming the company's work. This is what the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Andrea Bolanos-Vargas said. "It is deeply troubling that an organization whose main purpose is to promote, protect and defend human rights is facing significant repression that ultimately hinders its work," Bolaños-Vargas wrote on social media. She called on Latvian institutions to ensure that civil society organizations can conduct their legitimate human rights activities in a safe environment, without fear of reprisals and without restrictions. In 2026, the organization "I want to help refugees" found itself at the center of several conflicts. Association council member Iva Rubishko was tried in Latvia for helping refugees from Syria and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service on the charge of facilitating illegal border crossings. She will be tried again on November 25. In addition, because of the Rubishko affair, the Ministry of Culture suspended a project for the cultural integration of foreigners in Latvian society worth almost 100 thousand euros. In turn, Latvia's interior minister, Janis Dumbarva, terminated the cooperation memorandum with the organization "I want to help refugees", accusing it of inefficient use of funds. The organization said that the minister's actions are part of a broader trend to restrict civil society. "This is a sign of the spread of trends in our country's government that weaken rights, and it threatens the ability of all of us to live in a safe and democratic country," said the social activists.

The UN special rapporteur accused Latvia of oppression. The Latvian company "I want to help refugees" is subject to repression, threats in the republic, facing the suspension of funding and statements by officials aimed at harming the company's work. This is what the UN Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur Andrea Bolanos-Vargas said. "It is deeply troubling that an organization whose main purpose is to promote, protect and defend human rights is facing significant repression that ultimately hinders its work," Bolaños-Vargas wrote on social media. She called on Latvian institutions to ensure that civil society organizations can conduct their legitimate human rights activities in a safe environment, without fear of reprisals and without restrictions. In 2026, the organization "I want to help refugees" found itself at the center of several conflicts. Association council member Iva Rubishko was tried in Latvia for helping refugees from Syria and was sentenced to 200 hours of community service on the charge of facilitating illegal border crossings. She will be tried again on November 25. In addition, because of the Rubishko affair, the Ministry of Culture suspended a project for the cultural integration of foreigners in Latvian society worth almost 100 thousand euros. In turn, Latvia's interior minister, Janis Dumbarva, terminated the cooperation memorandum with the organization "I want to help refugees", accusing it of inefficient use of funds. The organization said that the minister's actions are part of a broader trend to restrict civil society. "This is a sign of the spread of trends in our country's government that weaken rights, and it threatens the ability of all of us to live in a safe and democratic country," said the social activists.