The investigation, carried out in cooperation with the State Security Service (VDD), revealed that the man had served in the armed forces of the aggressor country Russia.
The State Border Guard has initiated criminal proceedings against the person under Article 284(1) of the Criminal Law - for intentional illegal crossing of an external state border.
The State Security Service has initiated criminal proceedings against the person under Article 95(1) of the Criminal Law for violation of the prohibition to serve in the Russian Armed Forces laid down in the Law on National Security. The information available to the VDD shows that the person had concluded a military service contract with the Russian Armed Forces.
"The information at our disposal shows that this person had traveled to Russia, where he illegally joined the Russian Armed Forces. The person was trained in Russia. Afterwards, the person decided to return to Latvia," said Normunds Mežviets, Head of the VDD.
So far, the service has no reason to believe that the person is linked to Russian special services or was sent to Latvia with the aim of carrying out any diversions or provocations. He allegedly left his post in Russia on his own initiative.
The investigations into these criminal proceedings are ongoing and the services will provide further information on the progress of the investigations as the criminal proceedings progress.
The services remind the public that the presumption of innocence applies.
