The State Security Service (VDD), in cooperation with the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD), detained a person in mid-October on suspicion of illegally collecting information about Latvia’s defence sector on behalf of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU).
Based on information provided by MIDD, criminal proceedings were initiated against this individual on the 14th of October under the Criminal Law article on espionage, VDD reports.
The investigation established that the Latvian citizen had obtained and passed on to Russian military intelligence information regarding private infrastructure in Latvia that could be used for aviation, the presence of NATO allied forces in the country, and various current developments related to the defence sector.
The suspect also obtained information for the Russian intelligence service on the conditions for purchasing prepaid mobile SIM cards in Latvia, as well as other data.
In cooperation with MIDD, the VDD carried out procedural actions at two locations linked to the suspect in Ventspils during the night of the 18th of October.
A detailed examination of the data carriers seized during the searches is currently underway.
The suspect has been placed in custody as a security measure.
The VDD continues the investigation in cooperation with MIDD.
As BNN previously reported, on the 27th of August the VDD detained a Latvian citizen on suspicion of deliberately and illegally collecting information on Latvian military sites and transferring it to Russian intelligence.
The VDD obtained information that the individual had provided Russian intelligence with details on the location, layout and security solutions of several Latvian military facilities.
The detainee had supplied Russian intelligence with information regarding the construction of new military sites, troop training, and the presence of soldiers from other NATO member states at specific Latvian military facilities. According to VDD, the man had also transferred other information that could be used against the security interests of Latvia and other Baltic states.
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