A criminal investigation has been opened in Latvia against a man who threatened the family of a Ukrainian woman in Switzerland. He faces charges of incitement to ethnic hatred and related information about violence and threats.
According to Latvia’s State Security Service, the incident occurred on October 13 on the Interlaken–Spiez train in Switzerland. The Ukrainian family’s use of language led to threats and aggressive remarks by the man, who spoke Russian. On October 17, investigators opened a criminal case under Part 3 of Article 78 of the Latvian Criminal Law.
The Ukrainian woman Olena Dudnyk shared the details: the conflict began over the language used; the video captures aggressive demands, a request to delete the recording, and threats directed at her family. Also, a passenger who spoke Russian expressed himself contemptuously and insulted people in the carriage.
“You, bitch, apologize for what you will do, why aren’t you in a trench, you fucking scum? Oh, look, it’s recording! Delete the video now, before this ends badly for you. What the hell kind of Swiss are you? Show your Swiss passport. I am Swiss, bitch, fuck your mother”
– a train passenger (Russian-speaking)
“Mostly these are women with children, to whom he threatened violence, physical punishment, and rape! Call this filth Aleksandrs Vabiks, a Latvian by birth”
– Olena Dudnyk
According to the investigation, the incident became the subject of a criminal proceeding for incitement to interethnic hatred and hostile actions toward Ukrainians involving violence and threats. The Latvian side emphasizes the importance of holding those responsible to account for language-ethnic insults in public spaces.