Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has confirmed it is aware that Latvia’s all-time leading scorer in national team history, Leonīds Tambijevs, has become a coach of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) team Sanktpēterburgas SKA.
The VDD stated that it is informed about the individual’s activities. At the same time, the service did not comment on specific issues related to the person’s citizenship.
The VDD noted that under the Citizenship Law, Latvian citizenship may be revoked only from persons who would not become stateless as a result — namely, individuals who have acquired citizenship of another country in addition to Latvian citizenship. Each case is assessed individually.
The service emphasized that it pays heightened attention to Latvian nationals who have ties to the aggressor state, Russia. If an individual is found to pose a threat to Latvia’s national security, the VDD uses various instruments to mitigate such risks.
As previously reported, under the Citizenship Law, Latvian citizenship may be revoked if a person has provided significant financial, material, propaganda, technological, or other forms of support to states or individuals whose activities undermine or threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence, or constitutional order of democratic states — including acts of genocide, crimes against peace, crimes against humanity, or war crimes — or if the Latvian citizen has personally participated in such activities. Citizenship may be revoked only if the person does not become stateless.
Information regarding whether a Latvian citizen has engaged in such actions is provided by state security institutions.
Tambijevs has worked as a coach in Russia for several years. Since 2021, he had served as head coach of the KHL club Admiral Vladivostok.
In 2022, following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the portal Delfi.lv reported that the VDD had taken note of Latvian athletes, coaches, and support staff who intended to continue their careers in Russia. Traveling to Russia, the service noted at the time, is also associated with increased intelligence and recruitment risks.
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