State Security Service pushes for prosecution over radio broadcasts

Take note – story published 2 years ago

Latvia's internal security service, the State Security Service (VDD) said January 7 it has referred a case for launching a criminal prosecution "against a person for invitation directed against the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Latvia." 

The criminal proceedings against the unnamed individual were initiated pursuant to Section 81 of the Criminal Law (Invitation Directed against the Republic of Latvia).

"During the investigation, an in-depth assessment was conducted about the said person’s statements in two radio broadcasts, where the person publicly and repeatedly called to turn against the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Latvia. The person also characterised the USSR occupation, a tragic time for the State and people of Latvia, as a beneficial period," the VDD said.

No mention was made of which radio broadcasts these were, nor when they were made.

The VDD also said it had "requested the assessment of two competent authorities about the content of the person’s statements" though it did not say who or what the competent authorities were nor upon what their competence was based.

"The experts’ opinion confirmed that the said person’s public statements clearly call to turn against the Republic of Latvia," the VDD said. 

On 30 December 2021 VDD referred the criminal case to Riga Judicial Region Prosecution Office, asking for a criminal prosecution against the suspect. 

Latvian State Security Service (VDD) is one of the three Latvian Security and Intelligence Services besides the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB) and Defence Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD).

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