Latvian law enforcers have announced an international manhunt for Latvian citizen Aleksandrs Mališevs, who participated in military operation and attacks on Ukrainian armed forces.
Latvian State Security Service (VDD) told the media that criminal proceedings commenced before Russia’s invasion of Ukriane – on the 10th of March 2021.
VDD discovered during the investigation that
since 2015 Mališevs has been staying in Luhansk Oblast that was illegally taken over and renamed as “Luhansk People’s Republic” by pro-Russian separatists.
Information acquired by VDD indicates that for a long time Mališevs has been a member of the illegally-formed military group – the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic People’s Militia 2nd Army Corps’ 14th Territorial Defence Battalion. He participated in military operations and attacks on Ukrainian armed forces, thereby attacking Ukrainian territorial integrity.
After confirming all evidence of Mališevs’ active illegal participation in the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, VDD sent materials from the criminal process to Riga Court District Prosecution, requesting criminal prosecution of the suspect in accordance with the section of the Criminal Law on illegal participation in an armed conflict.
An international manhunt has been announced for Mališevs.
VDD invites anyone with the information about the man to report it to the service using the e-mail address info@vdd.gov.lv.
The prosecution office previously confirmed that charges were presented to the main in August 2022.
Because the suspect is currently wanted, the process is on hold.
Amendments to the Criminal Law that prohibit residents from illegally taking part in armed conflicts in foreign countries came into force on the 19th of February 2015.
There have been multiple criminal procedures initiated against Latvian citizens for fighting on the site of Russian-backed militants in Eastern Ukraine over the years. Some of the accused were detained in Latvia and convicted. Others are still wanted by authorities.
At the beginning of 2023 VDD reported having commenced a criminal procedure against a Latvian citizen on suspicion of illegal participation in the Russian-Ukrainian war. The suspect had previously served in the Latvian army but was discharged with disciplinary action.
More on this topic: Authorities commence criminal procedure against Latvian for taking part in Russian aggression