Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD), together with the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD), has detained two Latvian citizens — a man and a woman — on suspicion of gathering information about the country’s defence sector on behalf of Russian military intelligence. The VDD announced this on 1 October.
Criminal proceedings were opened on 27 June under the first paragraph of Article 85 of the Criminal Law, which covers the collection and transfer of classified and other information to a foreign intelligence service at its request. The suspects were detained the following day, 28 June. The offence carries a prison sentence of one to ten years.
According to the investigation, the suspects obtained and passed to the GRU information about Latvia’s defence system, the activities of NATO allied forces, and various forms of support for Ukraine. They were particularly interested in the National Armed Forces air base, radar systems, and the movement of military air transport.
One of those detained, the VDD said, carried out reconnaissance and aerial photography of the Ādaži military base from a small private aircraft on the GRU’s instructions. Investigators also say the couple took steps that could have been used to support potential intelligence and sabotage groups on Latvian territory.
On the day of the arrests, searches were conducted at three premises linked to the suspects in Riga and the Ādaži municipality. Data storage devices, documents, and notes were seized; examination of the material is continuing. Both suspects have been remanded in custody. Their names have not been released.
