On Thursday, the 9th of November, Riga City Court sentenced found Saeima deputy Jānis Ādamsons guilty of spying for Russia and sentenced him to eight years and six months in prison, as conformed by the Court Administration.
The court of first instance put Ādamsons on trial for a total of four crimes, including the illegal acquisition of foreign property in small amounts, the acquisition and possession of ammunition for firearms without an appropriate permit.
Ādamsons’ final sentence was calculated putting together his penalties – deprivation of freedom for eight years and six months a two-year with probation.
Russian citizen, former KGB worker Gennady Silonov was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison with a two-year probation period for espionage.
Riga City Court Judge Erlens Ernstsons notes that
Ādamsons had illegally and systematically collected
and through Silonov had provided non-disclosable information and other sensitive information to a foreign intelligence service – Russian Federal Security Service.
Silonov, on the other hand, illegally collected non-disclosable information and other information under orders from the FSB. This information provided a detailed insight into the work of Latvian state institutions, law enforcement institutions and state security institutions, as well as the national defence system. This kind of information is in line with the objectives of the intelligence and security services of Russia against Latvia, as identified in the National Security Concept.
The court also found that
Ādamsons had unjustifiably requested and received compensation
for transportation costs, thereby causing damages to the Latvian Saeima.
As previously reported, Ādamsons was accused in accordance with three sections of the Criminal Law – espionage, large-scale fraud and procurement and storage of firearms munition without a permit. The deputy is also accused of small-scale fraud related to compensation of fuel costs. The total amount in question is approximately EUR 100.
Ādamsons’ defence attorney Mihails Černousovs stressed the verdict will be appealed, because the defence believes Ādamsons’ guilt was not proved and that the case itself was “completely fabricated”.
As for the possible espionage, the available information indicates that law enforcers suspect Ādamsons of more than 40 episodes.
Ādamsons was detained by the State Security Service for espionage in summer 2021. He was later put under arrest. In December 2021 he was provided with the option to be released on bail (EUR 30 000). The bail was paid and in January 2022 Ādamsons was released from arrest.
In December 2021 the majority of the Saeima voted in favour of permitting criminal prosecution of Ādamsons.
After his arrest, Ādamsons left Harmony political party,
but he remained a Saeima deputy.
In the parliament Ādamsons worked in the Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee, Submissions Committee and the Baltic Affairs Sub-Committee. Although he had no access to official secrets, he had the right to participate in meetings of the Defence, Internal Affairs and Corruption Prevention Committee, during which officials presented confidential information.
He also worked in multiple Saeima deputy groups. As a member of the Latvian parliament, he worked in the deputies’ group for promotion of cooperation with the Israeli parliament, China’s parliament and the Belarusian parliament. From January 2019 onward Ādamsons was the head of the Latvian Saeima deputies group for the promotion of cooperation with the Russian parliament.
During the Soviet era Ādamsons held different posts in the USSR Navy. After the restoration of Latvia’s independence Ādamsons served as deputy commander of Latvian Navy and commander of the Border Guards Brigade. Later he entered politics.
Also read: UN chief: Gaza death toll shows that Israeli tactics are “clearly wrong”
Follow us on Facebook and X!