Over the past two years, at least ten sabotage incidents have taken place in Latvia, and to respond more effectively, additional investments are needed in special forces, including considering the purchase of helicopters, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis (JV) told news agency LETA in an interview.
Commenting on an investigation by the Baltic Center for Investigative Journalism Re:Baltica and its partners, which revealed that four Latvian residents were involved in a Russian intelligence-organized group that carried out four terrorist attacks in European countries using mail parcels packed with homemade explosives, the minister stressed that the threats are real and no longer rare, isolated events.
The most tragic consequences could have occurred at the Museum of the Occupation, but attempts to damage infrastructure are now happening regularly, which is why Latvian institutions must also work closely with neighboring countries’ services, as those involved in sabotage move around the Schengen area, the minister explained.
While Kozlovskis did not specify the exact number of sabotage cases recorded in the past two years, he emphasized that there were not hundreds, but not fewer than ten. He noted that last year marked a shift from “soft power” – attempts to influence people’s minds – to physical attacks on Latvian infrastructure.
“As with any crime, there are perpetrators, intermediaries, supporters, and organizers,”
said Kozlovskis. The organizers avoid identification, while the executors are usually people with criminal backgrounds or ties to the underworld.
“Security services are currently able to prevent such criminal activities proactively, but the worrying fact is that this trend will not fade. Let’s be real – we are not in a conventional war, but we are at war with Russia,” the minister underlined.
He noted that it cannot be said with certainty that all these cases are directly linked to Russian interests, though “such a chain of connection is roughly visible.” Involvement has not been limited to Latvian nationals. At the same time, the minister stressed that those carrying out these actions rarely have ideological convictions—what dominates are mercenary motives to earn money without much concern for the consequences.
“They are often given very practical tasks—‘do this, you’ll get paid this much’
—and people don’t think much about what they are doing. Most likely, that’s exactly why this profile of executors is chosen,” Kozlovskis explained.
He added that the number of such cases is unlikely to decrease, which is why additional solutions are needed. In his view, investments should be made in special forces, boosting their mobility and effectiveness. For instance, Latvia would need to acquire medium-class helicopters capable of ensuring rapid response anywhere in the country.
“Currently, we have the counter-terrorism unit Omega, which is based in Riga, and in Latgale, there is the Border Guard’s special unit. But given the sabotage incidents and the information we receive from security services, the threats are no longer at a medium level but at a higher stage. Therefore, we must prepare accordingly,” the minister emphasized.
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