On 19 June, Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) asked prosecutors to initiate criminal proceedings against four Latvian nationals accused of gathering intelligence in Latvia and passing it to Russian intelligence services through the pro-Kremlin criminal organisation Baltic Antifascists, the agency announced.
The four suspects were arrested in January after investigators concluded that they had systematically and deliberately collected various types of intelligence and transferred it to the pro-Kremlin group Baltic Antifascists, which allegedly forwarded the information to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) and other institutions of the aggressor state.
According to the investigation, one suspect obtained and transmitted information on the locations and size of the Latvian National Armed Forces near the Russian border, as well as details concerning Latvia’s support for Ukraine.
A second suspect gathered intelligence on Latvia’s critical transport and logistics infrastructure, including hangars at Riga Airport, their use, as well as airport access-control and security procedures.
The same individual also collected information on the construction of border infrastructure, defence and military mobility measures along Latvia’s border with Russia, training of foreign troops in Latvia, and information about specific Latvian citizens, the VDD said.
A third suspect gathered and passed on personal information about Latvian citizens, including their workplaces, education, property ownership and financial circumstances.
The fourth suspect allegedly exploited his position as a security guard to collect and provide information on Latvian residents, organisations and companies supporting Ukraine.
Among other things, he sent surveillance camera images showing people wearing pro-Ukrainian symbols, vehicles belonging to volunteer organisations supporting Ukraine, and cars displaying stickers condemning Russia’s aggression.
The transmitted information also included personal data, contact details, vehicle registration numbers and other information that could be used to identify supporters of Ukraine.
The suspect was initially detained by the State Police on 7 January after attacking journalists and stealing their video camera. Police opened criminal proceedings for hooliganism involving property damage. On 14 January, the VDD took over the investigation, additionally charging the suspect with espionage and robbery.
The VDD established that intelligence was transferred to the criminal organisation both through the messaging platform Telegram and during private meetings held in Russia.
All four suspects remain in custody. The VDD has requested that prosecutors charge them with unlawfully collecting and transferring information to a foreign intelligence service through an intermediary.
One of the suspects also faces additional charges of hooliganism and robbery.
The VDD said it continuously monitors the activities of the Russia-based criminal organisation Baltic Antifascists, whose Telegram channel has repeatedly encouraged followers to collect intelligence useful to Russia in Latvia, including information containing state secrets.
Earlier this year, TV3’s investigative programme Nothing Personal (Nekā personīga) identified the arrested security guard as Igors Andrejevs. The programme encountered him at his workplace in Riga’s Ziepniekkalns district. After reporters approached him, Andrejevs allegedly attacked the journalists, smashed their camera and fled before being arrested shortly afterwards.
The VDD also detained Iveta Balode, reportedly the wife of Sergejs Vasiļjevs, who appears in Russian media as the leader of Baltic Antifascists. Another suspect placed in pre-trial detention is Jevgenijs Okss, who works in the financial sector and is described as a close associate of Vasiļjevs.
According to the VDD, the group calling itself Baltic Antifascists began coordinating activities directed against Latvia’s national security through dedicated Telegram groups established for that purpose. Criminal proceedings against the organisation were launched in November 2022.
Currently, two alleged members of the group—Tatjana Andrijeca and Aleksandrs Žguns—are standing trial in Latvia. In April this year, the Kurzeme District Court in Talsi suspended proceedings because Žguns has been declared wanted.
Other alleged members—Sergejs Vasiļjevs, Viktorija Matule, Romans Samuļs and Staņislavs Bukains—have fled to Russia or Belarus.
Under Latvian law, organising or participating in such a criminal organisation may be punishable by life imprisonment or a prison sentence of 10 to 20 years.
In a separate case, the Riga Regional Court upheld the seven-year prison sentence imposed on taxi driver Sergejs Sidorovs, who was convicted of spying for Russia and passing information to Baltic Antifascists. The judgment became final this year after Latvia’s Supreme Court refused to hear a further appeal.