"We are very sorry to hear that your colleague had to go through this experience and hope he can continue his work in Latvia without any problems," Santa-Wood said.
She added the Committee to Protect Journalists does not issue statements if a journalist was detained for less than 24 hours and was released without charges.
Sputnik's press service has said that exerting pressure on journalists has become a standard practice for the Baltic states, which are concerned about the growing appeal of Sputnik to their population.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly pointed out that the authorities of Latvia, and other Baltic countries, continue to pursue the policies of discrimination against Russian media outlets and journalists working in the region.
Moreover, the Baltic states' authorities have repeatedly denied accreditation and expelled Russian journalists without explaining reasons behind their moves.
