Candidate put forward to head SAB security service

Take note – story published 2 years ago

Members of the National Security Council told the LETA newswire January 8 that they believed Egils Zviedris was a suitable candidate to become the next director of the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB).

Zviedris is currently SAB's Deputy Director and his name has been forwarded to Saeima for approval. Previous SAB director and former prosecutor-general Janis Maizitis passed away in November 2021 at the age of 60.

Minister of Defense Artis Pabriks (For/Development) said state security institutions should not experiment with finding a director from the outside, especially in the current tense geopolitical situation. According to the Minister, this is one of the arguments in favor of the Zviedris' candidacy.

Minister of the Interior Marija Golubeva (For/Development) and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs (New Unity) expressed similar sentiments.

Māris Kučinskis (Greens and Farmers Union), Chairman of the Saeima National Security Committee and a former Prime Minister, told LETA that Zviedris could gain support in the Saeima because he is a professional in his field.

"I hope that MPs will be convinced of that as well," Kučinskis added.

Zviedris has been working in state security institutions since 1992, and at the SAB since 2000. He is currently the Deputy Director and head of the Intelligence Department.

The Saeima will now have to decide on whether to appoint or reject his candidacy to become the next director of the SAB.

The Constitution Protection Bureau is one of three state security services. The main tasks of SAB include intelligence, counter-intelligence and protection of official secrets. SAB also ensures protection of NATO and EU classified information in public institutions engaged in work with such information.

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