Ex-Prime Minister and ex-Minister of the Interior Māris Kučinskis believes MEP Tatyana Zhdanok’s possible ties with Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) will no go without consequences.
In his interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma, Kučinskis said Latvian State Security Service’s (VDD) initiated analysis of information about Zhdanok’s possible ties to Russian special services comes as no surprise.
“The folder is very big, figuratively speaking. All such cases were documented,” said the former minister.
“This will have consequences,” he continued.
The leaked e-mail correspondence indicates that Zhdanok has been regularly reporting to FSB operatives about her activities at least since 2004. She also requested funding for various events and activities. Zhdanok denies having ties to Russian FSB. She calls her contacts old friends, as reported by Baltic investigative journalism centre Re:Baltica.
The e-mail correspondence was accessed by Russian investigative organisation The Insider, which then shared information with Re:Baltica, Estonian Delfi portal and Swedish newspaper Expressen.
In her statement to the media, Zhdanok did not deny the authenticity of the e-mails in question. She said it is unacceptable to comment the content of the personal correspondence acquired using help from hackers.
Latvian State Security Service reminds that until 2016 Latvian laws did not provide criminal liability for assisting foreign countries or foreign organisations in acts against the Latvian state. This means the information detailing activities between 2005 and 2013 does not qualify as a crime.
According to VDD, Zhdanok’s status as an MEP and the immunity provided by this status is an important factor that served her activities in supporting Russia’s geopolitical interests.
In 2016 VDD, together with Military Intelligence and Security Service and the Constitution Protection Bureau, proposed to improve Latvia’s legislation. One of the reasons why changes were necessary was the threat posed by the so-called compatriot policy implemented by Russia and other manifestations of non-military influence, which was also supported by Latvian nationals.
Also read: Legal Affairs Committee chairman says there is no point blaming law enforcers’ for inaction towards Zhdanok
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