Latvia stops issuing all types of visas to Russians, President Edgars Rinkevics said on social networks.
“In connection with the events in Russia, Latvia will not issue humanitarian or other types of visas,” he said.
On the eve of the head of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin, together with fighters from his detachments, captured part of the military facilities in the Russian cities of Rostov-on-Don and Voronezh. There are tanks and armored personnel carriers on the streets, residents post videos in which explosions and shooting are heard. It all started on the evening of June 23 with Prigozhin's statement that the RF Ministry of Defense had allegedly launched rocket attacks on the rear camps of the Wagner PMC, and that Shoigu had personally arrived in Rostov-on-Don to carry out an operation to destroy the PMC. Prigozhin promised to respond to the blow and "deal with those who destroy Russian soldiers." A case was initiated against Prigozhin for inciting an armed rebellion, but he said that he was not going to “at the request of the president, the FSB or anyone else to come to confession.”
Earlier today, Vladimir Putin, in an emergency speech, called Prigozhin's actions a betrayal and betrayal of the country and people. He promised that all who embarked on the path of rebellion "will suffer inevitable punishment."
“Internal turmoil is a mortal threat to our statehood. And our actions will be tough. All those who consciously embarked on the path of betrayal will suffer inevitable punishment. They will answer before the law and before our people. The armed forces have received appropriate orders,” Putin said.
He also added that "decisive actions will be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don." According to him, the situation there "remains difficult – the work of civil and military authorities is practically blocked."
Putin did not mention Prigozhin's name in his appeal, but he did mention the "heroes of Wagner". He urged the Wagnerites to "stop participating in criminal activities."