Julija Stepaņenko refuses to explain origin of 420,000 euro gifts from father in Russia

Julija Stepaņenko, the prime ministerial candidate for the Sovereign Power/Young Latvians alliance, has declined to disclose the source of approximately 420,000 euros in gifts received from her father, who resides in Russia.

During a recent interview, Stepaņenko cited family privacy as the reason for not explaining her father's occupation or the origin of his funds. She noted that the gifts, which include a Riga apartment valued at 180,000 euros and previous cash gifts totaling nearly 240,000 euros, have been officially declared. She stated that if there are suspicions regarding the legality of the funds, law enforcement authorities should be contacted.

Stepaņenko's financial history also includes significant declared loans and liabilities from her time as a Saeima MP. Additionally, her 2025 declaration shows substantial cash savings for both herself and her husband. Stepaņenko has defended her political platform of maintaining cash usage as a matter of personal freedom and practical necessity during power outages.