Riga, Latvia – A contestant on the popular Latvian reality television show “Thru Thorns to the Stars” is facing notable penalties after refusing a post-accident breathalyzer test last November.Ksenija Nezhenkina’s case is drawing attention to Latvia’s increasingly strict laws regarding sobriety checks following traffic incidents, where refusal to cooperate carries consequences independent of impairment. The Jēkabpils court’s recent ruling underscores the potential for severe repercussions, even in the absence of evidence of driving under the influence.
A Latvian television personality is facing legal consequences after refusing a breathalyzer test following a traffic accident last November. The case of Ksenija Nezhenkina, a contestant on the show “Through Thorns to the Stars,” highlights the country’s strict stance on declining post-accident sobriety checks.
Nezhenkina allegedly drove her Volkswagen Polo into road signs near Jēkabpils while traveling from Riga on November 2023. While her vehicle sustained damage, she escaped the incident with minor injuries, attributing her safety to wearing a seatbelt.
Police responding to the scene reported that Nezhenkina left the location of the accident and returned to her property before they could administer a breathalyzer test. She maintains she was not under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the crash, but declined to cooperate with the police request for a sobriety assessment.
“I didn’t understand why they were asking me to do it, so I refused. At that time, I didn’t know that the laws had changed and that stricter liability applied – a criminal case. I only found out at the police station,” Nezhenkina stated.
As a result of refusing the test, Nezhenkina has been convicted and sentenced to a five-year driving ban, along with 18 months of probation and a fine equivalent to the value of her car – 250 euros, payable in installments. She intends to appeal the initial ruling, as she has ten days to do so.
This fine is in addition to other penalties related to the incident. Nezhenkina was also ordered to pay a 300-euro penalty for the damaged road signs and an additional 25 euros for leaving the scene of the accident. The case underscores the potential legal ramifications of refusing a police sobriety test, even without evidence of impairment.
