Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) reports that the information currently available does not indicate that Russian mercenary company Wagner Group could cause any immediate threats for Latvia’s security.
When asked to comment the publication from Italian newspaper Il Foglio about an alleged Wagner cell in Baltic States, VDD noted the situation both inside Latvia and outside the country’s borders is under monitoring in order to quickly identify possible risks for Latvia’s national security and to perform preventive measures.
«Information available to VDD does not suggest Russian mercenary company Wagner Group could create any immediate threats to Latvia’s security,»
the service reports.
Additionally, VDD mentioned that since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the service has worked with the State Border Guard in order to tighten migration control and prevent people who could potentially cause threats to Latvia’s security from crossing the border.
Italian Il Foglio reported last week that Russia’s ex-President Dmitry Medvedev has allegedly promised Wagner Group USD 15 million for the assassination of Italy’s Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto.
Italian intelligence services are worried about Medvedev’s statements in which he called Crosetto «a rare fool»,
which was his response to the Italian minister’s opinion that if Russian tanks enter Kyiv, it will be the start of WWIII.
Il Foglio reports that the Italian intelligence intercepted an «order» for a hit on Crosetto sent by Medvedev to the Wagner Group for USD 15 million. Medvedev allegedly ordered this assassination before Crosetto made the statement in which he accused Wagner Group of contributing to the migration crisis by organising the flow of migrants from Africa to Europe.
Il Foglio reports that, according to information from the Italian intelligence service, Wagner Group has at least two cells in Europe: one in the Balkans, between Serbia and Albania, and the other – in Estonia. Both have several dozen troops, which can be composed into a patrol with an objective to perform certain tasks in Italy.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda’s advisor for national security Kęstutis Budri recently mentioned that Wagner Group may try to test western nations’ defence mechanisms using attacks on Baltic States.
Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis stressed that intelligence data does not a possible incoming attack from Russia. However, the situation may change and the threat is real.
Wagner Group mercenaries have been a part of the conflict in Ukraine since 2014, according to public information.
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