In March this year, the VDD launched an investigation into the suspected involvement of the company Pobeda Confectionery registered in Latvia in providing support to the Russian armed forces. The service had reported that the Russian-based candy producer, Pobeda, may have donated large amounts of production to the Russian armed forces, who carry out war crimes, crimes against peace, and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.
In Latvia, since 2014, the company Pobeda Confectionery associated with the Russian candy producer also produces and markets products of the Pobeda brand. In the course of the examination, VDD assessed the possible involvement of the company registered in Latvia, its owners, and the true beneficiaries in providing support to the Russian army.
An analysis of the information carried out by VDD shows that the Russian candy producer, Pobeda, has provided long-standing, systemic support for Russia's military-memorial policy, support for the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the Russian armed forces.
VDD found that the Pobeda production was included in the individual food packages of the Russian armed forces.
The products have been provided to the Russian army by Pobeda for years and have not ceased to be provided following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Consequently, Pobeda provides resources to the occupation army in support of its crimes in Ukraine, according to VDD. Also, Russia's candy production has long been cooperating with the Russian War Veterans Organization, which supports Russia's aggressive foreign policy and regularly provides a variety of resources to Russian soldiers.
On the other hand, the suspicion of involvement of the company Pobeda Confectionery registered in Latvia in providing aid to the Russian armed forces was not confirmed.
At the same time, the owners of the Russian candy plant are also in the ownership structure of the company Pobeda Confectionery registered in Latvia. As the individuals concerned are not Latvian citizens, in order to avoid a potential threat to Latvia's national security, VDD encouraged the Minister for the Interior to include these persons on the blacklist.
The staff of the company Pobeda Confectionery registered in Latvia has been warned that any form of aid to the aggressor country in Latvia is under criminal responsibility.
