TV3 programme Nekā personīga offers a deeper look at the suspects detained by the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) – Igors Bobirs, Raitis Dolgovs and Aleksandr Rjabikin. VDD suspects all of them of working with Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
The detained persons had ties to Latvian law enforcement institutions. There is very little information publicly available about them.
The programme notes that this whole event also casts a shadow at the State Revenue Service (VID), because searches were performed in the home of a high-ranking official of this institution. Latvian Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens believes it is necessary to assess security risks in VID following the arrest of the ex-husband of his worker Natālija Dolgova.
***
In August VDD detained Latvian citizens on suspicion of them performing orders from FSB aimed against the security of Latvia and its residents. Three people were detained. One was presented with a security measure not associated with deprivation of freedom. Several days ago Riga Regional Court rejected the appeal complaints submitted by the detained individuals. This means they will remain under arrest.
Businessman Igors Bobirs was provided with Latvian citizenship as part of naturalisation procedure. For years he was in charge of BTA insurance company’s security service. Currently he is the co-owner and board member in multiple private firms.
Until 2005 Raitis Dolgovs was an inspector of the Criminal Police in Riga Region. He was later hired by to work in BTA security service under Bobirs. He is now a private detective. Information from State Police website mentions he received his certificate in 2020.
The third detained person is lawyer Aleksandrs Rjabikins. He served as judge at the Economic Court of Arbitration. Rjabikins owns companies registered at the real estate owned by Igors Bobirs in Riga, Klijānu Street. He also has a joint business with Bobirs – RC 7 Group. Both also work for Certification Academy association, which is in the middle of liquidation.
Raitis Dolgovs has ties with Bobirs as well. His firm Meža biotops, which buys real estate, is registered on the aforementioned Klijānu Street address. Among this company’s co-owners is also one Andrejs Podrezs, who is one more former law enforcement and security institution worker. Podrezs is Dolgovs’ defence attorney in this criminal case.
Sworn attorney Andrejs Podrezs tells the programme:
“I’ve known Raitis for a very long time. We are old friends. I am completely confident he has a certain attitude towards this neighbouring country (Russia), especially after 2014 and Crimea. I am absolutely confident he could not have provided aid to these services (such as FSB). Perhaps he is acquainted with some person who knows someone who had ties to other countries’ security services before the war.”
Bobirs’ defence attorney Jānis Dambītis denies any accusations against his client. Dambītis, another ex-law enforcer, is also known as a figure close to Unity political party’s politicians. In the past he provided advise to then the PM Einars Repše, as well as multiple ministers of finance that are active members of New Unity [Nekā personīga implies that Jānis Reirs is one of them – BNN]. Dambītis and Bobirs have known each other for a long time, because the two worked together in the insurance business.
Sworn attorney Jānis Dambītis:
“The actions in question, I cannot say they could potentially put Latvia’s security and sovereignty at risk. This is what we will argue over in court.
This is not about taking photos of some strategic objects or something else that could potentially put Latvia’s security at risk. There is nothing like that. Knowing his [Bobirs] professionalism, when we were still colleagues, I know his moral stance. Especially his stance towards Russia. Knowing he is Ukrainian, it is difficult for me to imagine performing any orders.”
***
During the search VDD found the detained persons were in possession of devices used for illegal activities. Lawyer Dambītis allows that it is possible Bobirs may still have contacts left from his time when he worked in the insurance business. He explains that because of the specifics of his job, Bobirs had to communicate with workers of various law enforcement institutions. This includes the once an operative of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) and later Saeima deputy Juris Jurašs.
One meeting between them is mentioned in materials of the criminal case regarding the million euro bribe offer to Jurašs. Dambītis and Jurašs met in Brālis pub in autumn 2015. Bobirs was also present for the conversation. He described Jurašs as a good acquaintance. The businessman is also mentioned as the buyer of Jurašs’ real estate property in the countryside.
VDD does not reveal what kind of orders from FSB the detained individuals are accused of performing.
VDD refused as interview. A large amount of data storage devises and documents were confiscated during the search.
***
VDD’s investigation of Latvian citizens’ possible cooperation with Russian special service casts a shadow over the State Revenue Service as well. The search performed at Raitis Dolgovs’ place was performed in the households co-owned by his ex-wife. She is a high-ranking official in the State Revenue Service. On top of that, Natālija Dolgova [Raitis Dolgovs’ ex-wife] has access to official secrets.
She was chosen as the head of VID Internal Security Service Aigars Prusaks as his vice. Dolgova is the head of the Pre-trial Investigations Office. VID Internal Security Service now has to investigate dishonest actions from VID auditors, customs and police officers. The service is authorised to collect information by tapping into telephone conversations.
These ties to an arrested party represent a serious reputation risk for Dolgova and the entire service, says Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens. VID told the programme that VDD provided them with no information regarding the search in the home of one of its workers. Currently there is no legal reason for her suspension.
According to unofficial information, Dolgova is currently on sick leave.
In his interview to the programme, Ašeradens said:
“If these things surface, then they need to present a clear statement how it impacted her [Natālija Dolgova]. That it did not affect the service’s operations and so on. If there are doubts, it is necessary to perform inspections. Services monitor the situation very carefully.
What does it mean that VID has yet to respond for weeks after the arrest?
Of course, what you’ve told me here makes no sense to me. It needs to be commented on and confirm that such a thing has happened. We also need to decide what we will do next.”
***
Criminal proceedings have been initiated in accordance with Section 80.1 of the Criminal Law on merging into an organized group with the aim of carrying out an action against the Republic of Latvia. It is “punishable by imprisonment for up to five years or by a temporary custodial sentence or by probation, community service or by a fine”.
The chairman of Saeima National Security Committee Jānis Dombrava stresses that lately those caught having committed crimes against the state were able to avoid prison by paying fines. The Saeima deputy referenced a case when pro-Russian activist, editor-in-chief of Russian Sputnik media in Lithuania Marats Kasems was arrested for providing actual aid to the possible Russian invasion and preparing support for sabotage. Latvia’s Prosecutor General’s Office agreed instead on a fine of EUR 15 000 because the “accused has drawn conclusions and assessed the unacceptability of his actions”.
He continues: “We will definitely want to understand this problem on the level of the Saeima. How is it possible that the people who have committed criminal acts against the state can be punished with relatively symbolic amount of money, or, in other cases, let go entirely, or fined a small amount of money? We have to check whether there is any misunderstanding from the relevant institutions, incompetence, or any external influence there.”
Minister of the Interior and former head of Saeima’s National Security Committee Māris Kučinskis comments the situation:
“I cannot interfere with courts of law. We have to keep in mind that people driven into a corner, they will find he best lawyers. They will do anything to get out. The state needs to keep this in mind, and we need to work together on that.”
The State Police issues detectives with a certificate for a period of five years. The programme reminds that Raitis Dolgovs received his in 2020. The State Police have commenced an inspection of him and his activities. If information is uncovered about a person’s reputation or security risks, the detective certificate is annulled, explains Nekā personīga.
Also read: Medvedev says Russian army has enlisted 280 000 people this year