LATVIAN JOURNALISTS APPREHENDED DUE TO RUSSIAN-LATVIAN TENSION

MOSCOW, May 11 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed the issuance of visas to the Latvian reporters apprehended in the Pskov Region near the Russian-Latvian border, the ministry's Information and Press Department states in a press release.

"The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that visas were issued to three personnel of the main editorial office of Latvian TV channel LTV, namely Eriks Pakalns, Maris Jurgenson and Ivo Kirsblats, to cover the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the victory in WWII in the Pskov Region," the message reads.

"As for the footage shot by them in the Pytalovo District of the Pskov Region on May 9, an official conclusion has been requested form the local relevant authorities," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

On May 9, the three Latvian reporters were taking video footage of the railroad station in the Pytalovo District, which is an international border entry point, and were apprehended by local police and brought to the immigration control post.

The investigation completed, the reporters left the Russian federation on the same day.

On May 10, the Latvian Foreign Ministry sent a note to the Russian embassy in Latvia, expressing its perplexity at the incident. The note states that such an attitude indicates the lack of freedom of the media in Russia.

Latvia crafted an additional declaration to the treaty on the Russian-Latvian border, in which it makes territorial claims to Russia. Particularly, Riga insists on Russia's return of the Pytalovo District that was part of Latvia from the country's gaining independence in 1920 to its accession to the Soviet Union along with Lithuania and Estonia in 1940. Moscow believes that signing the treaty is out of question until Riga has abandoned its territorial claims and denounces its statements about "the Russian occupation of the Baltic states".