Latvian basketball agent's ties to Russian clubs spark backlash in basketball community
The Russia links of Latvian basketball agent Artūrs Kalnītis' agency have triggered widespread criticism in Latvia's basketball community. The issue was also raised at the national team's media day ahead of World Cup qualifiers.
Basketball agent Artūrs Kalnītis and his agency "Baltic Sports Agency" (BSA) have come under growing public scrutiny over their dealings with Russian clubs. The agency represents several Latvian national team players, including team captain Rihards Lomažs and Roberts Blumbergs, along with a number of foreign basketball players.
Clients heading to Russia
American player Nate Mason, an agency client, signed with St. Petersburg's Zenit after a season in Dubai — a club that has been linked to Gazprom structures for over a decade, entities subject to US and EU sanctions. Curtis Hollis, who played in Latvia last season for Valmiera Glass/ViA and VEF Rīga, has also joined Saratov's Avtodor. According to publicly available information, BSA is currently registered in the United Arab Emirates.
National team reaction
Latvia's men's national team has been in official training since August 10 ahead of 2027 World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Israel. At the team's media day, captain Rihards Lomažs was asked about his agency's Russia connections. He said he himself had turned down offers to play in Russia during his career, at a cost of roughly four million euros in lost earnings. Head coach Jānis Gailītis declined to comment on the agency, stressing the team's firm and unchanged political stance. Another BSA client, Roberts Blumbergs, said he would not consider such an option himself.
Criticism and possible consequences
On social media, commentators including Martins Lauva have suggested the matter could carry criminal implications, since Latvian law provides for liability over violations of EU and US sanctions. Kaspars Cipruss, secretary general of the Latvian Basketball Union, said the organization has approached the Justice and Foreign Affairs Ministries for guidance on how to respond, and pledged to forward any findings of possible criminal conduct to law enforcement.
