Latvian State Security Service (VDD) detained ex-Riga City Council member Ruslans Pankratovs. On Monday, 1 August, the court issued an arrest warrant. He is suspected of publicly supporting Russian crime against Ukraine and breaching international sanctions, according to information from LETA.
At the end of last week VDD carried out numerous criminal procedures in Riga and its surrounding area. On 30 July a suspect was detained.
The criminal procedure was commenced on 29 July in accordance with sections of the Criminal Law on crimes against peace and public glorification and justification of war crimes, as well as breach of EU sanctions.
During the investigation VDD acquired information that indicates on multiple Russian propaganda resources the suspect had justified Russian invasion of Ukraine and war crimes committed by Russian armed forces. VDD also believes the suspect spread disinformation about Latvia and its allies in an attempt to discredit them.
Information from the service also indicates that the suspect also cooperated with a person under EU sanctions.
TV3 programme reports that two weeks ago, 17 July, Pankratovs visited Ukraine’s cities in Zaporizhia currently occupied by Russia. The story published by Kremlin propaganda channel Vesti.ru indicates that Pankratovs participated in a press-conference organised by occupational power. During this press-conference, international media were informed of a referendum on the addition of occupied cities to Russia.
TV3 News reported with reference to unofficial information that Pankratovs has worked as Kremlin’s agent for a long time.
VDD reports having acquired a large number of data storage devices and documents. Analysis of contents continues.
The suspect was put under arrest. LETA reports the arrest was decided by Riga City Council. Pankratovs does have the right to appeal the decision at Riga Regional Court within seven days.
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Pankratovs was elected to Riga City Council from Harmony political party in 2009. In 2018 he ran in 13th Saeima elections as a candidate from Par Alternatīvu political party’s list of candidates. In 2019 he ran in European Parliament Elections as a candidate from Action party’s list.
According to information from Firmas.lv, Pankratovs together with Vera Pankratova worked in the Latvian Russians World association, which was founded in 2006. Several years ago he also worked in the Union Against Nazism association.
LETA archive also indicates that in 2015, for example, Pankratovs, as a member of Riga City Council at the time, left for an official visit to Moscow. In his report addressed to the mayor of Riga, Pankratovs mentioned that during this visit to Moscow he met with the head of Moscow’s Foreign Economic and International Contacts Office Sergei Cheremin, and that they discussed cooperation between Riga City Council and Moscow administration in different cultural and humanitarian projects in 2015-2017, as well as campaigns to promote Riga in Moscow.
At the time Riga City Council’s opposition told LETA that Pankratovs travelled to Moscow regularly, and taxpayers are the ones who paid for his trips. This, according to the opposition, questioned the usefulness of these frequent visits. They also pointed out that it is odd the representatives of Moscow’s administration met with rank and file deputies, rather than someone in a leading position.
On 10 June VDD reported that since the start of Russian invasion of Ukraine the service has commenced 19 criminal procedures and has taken over four criminal procedures from State Police regarding hate speech. Most of the criminal procedures deal with aggressive behaviour towards Ukraine and its people.
Latvian authorities detain ex-Riga City Council member for acting in Russia’s interests
