Former Latvian boxing champion Smirnovs unsuccessfully tries to become a Russian citizen

The State Security Service (VDD) has held talks with former Latvian boxing champion Nikitas Smirnova, who joked about his transition to Russian citizenship.

The VDD has evaluated the specific case without finding any sign of crime. The service has held discussions with Smirnova, warning of the criminal liability that could be expected to commit crimes.

In the assessment of the service, these public expressions in the current circumstances, when Russia has launched a war against Ukraine, do not correspond to security interests Latvian nationalism and creates the impression of indirectly expressing support for Russia’s aggressive attack.

VDD calls on everyone to think more carefully about public communication in the context of Russia’s extended war, avoid potentially inflammatory and inter-ethnic statements that incite tension, and put in our remember that the glorification and justification of Russian war crimes is subject to criminal liability.

It was already reported that Smirnovs, who first won two Latvian championship titles in an amateur competition, published a photo on the social website in which he is seen with a Russian passport.

“Now it’s no longer a secret,” wrote the 29-year-old boxer, who has won five fights in the professional ring, in Russian. “A few months ago, I was involved in a non- normal. Today, I accepted Russian citizenship at the embassy in Riga and received a passport.”

“Look and envy, now I am a citizen,” wrote Smirnov.

Shortly after, Smirnov writes on his Instagram account that he did not expect such a move.

“I have a question for you journalists, how can you publish news like this without verifying the information!?” writes the joker. “One of them wrote and everyone repeated it . It’s very unprofessional.”

“It turns out that you can write about anything just because someone says something? Without facts and evidence? Ridiculous,” writes Smirnov.

“I’m glad I have a Latvian passport and I’m not going to change it,” he writes. “We have a wonderful country and please don’t believe everything you read in the news,” he says. ‘ to persuade.

“I wish that the wars in the countries of the world will end soon and that we will all live in peace, harmony and love,” said Smirnov. “I am against war regardless wherever it happens, I want world peace.”

At the same time, the cover photo of Smirnov “Instagram” has a picture with boxer gloves and the Russian flag on his shirt.

Smirnovs fought his last fight in the professional ring in October 2020, when he met Kristaps Zuti in a heavy duel. There was no winner in the fight, as both boxers were disqualified.

In the next five fights, Smirnov won, three of them by knockout.