The VDD confirmed that yesterday the service carried out criminal procedural activities at two places related to Ždanoka, a notoriousy pro-Moscow politician. Data carriers, notes and documents were removed as a result of the criminal proceedings, and analysis of the seized materials is under way.
The criminal procedural actions were carried out by the VDD in connection with a criminal probe started in February of this year into possible cooperation with the Russian special services, the service confirmed.
Later on Tuesday, the VDD released several pictures of the search taking place and items discovered, including a 2019 invitation from President Putin, bits of Soviet and Putin memorabilia and campaign leaflets. One particularly odd item appears to be a heart-shaped box containing candies wrapped in the unappealing face of Russia's war criminal president.
The information at the disposal of the LETA agency shows that, most likely, the aforementioned investigative actions were carried out because Ždanoka, being no longer a member of the EP, has lost her parliamentary immunity.
Ždanoka was not available or comment, as her phone is apparently switched off. Unofficial information at the disposal of the LETA new agency suggests that Ždanoka is not currently in Latvia, though her exact whereabouts are not stated. However, she was spotted still hanging around the European Parliament by one of Latvia's new MEPs in Brussels on July 16.
Nepatīkams pārsteigums Stasbūrā. Iepriekšējā sasaukuma eiroparlamentāriešiem ir ieeja parlamentā, bet ne jau nu Krievijas spiegiem. Apsolu pacīnīties, lai šai kundzei caurlaide drīz tiktu anulēta. pic.twitter.com/AOrgoel02q
— Mārtiņš Staķis (@MStakis) July 16, 2024
As previously reported by LSM, in mid-March, the VDD announced that it had started criminal proceedings against the then-MEP Ždanoka for possible cooperation with the Russian special services.
Leaked emails showed that Latvian MEP Ždanoka regularly reported to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) about her activities and asked for money to organize events at least since 2004, but she denies working with the Russian intelligence services and refers to her contacts as her youth friend, the Baltic Centre for Investigative Journalism "Re:Baltica" reported in January. The emails were leaked to the Russian investigative magazine "The Insider", which shared the information with "Re:Baltica", the Estonian portal "Delfi" and the Swedish newspaper "Expressen".
In April Ždanoka was fined and censured by the European Parliament.
