Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has prepared the Annual Report about its activities in 2024.
"Last year Russia remained the primary threat to Latvia’s national security. As the Service warned in its previous annual report, in addition to traditional intelligence activities, the aggressor state also organized malign activities in Latvia, seeking to intimidate and divide Latvian society," said Normunds Mežviets, the Director General of VDD, summarizing the key trends described in the report. "There is no doubt that Russia will continue its attempts to influence social and political processes in Latvia this year, including aggressive methods. According to the VDD’s analysis, Russia’s malign activities in Latvia are expected to become even more diverse."
Next to Russian intelligence and security services, intelligence and security services of Belarus and China also maintained an interest in Latvia last year. Hostile states sought to expand their influence by spreading narratives and disinformation aligned with their interests in the information space. Additionally, the security threat posed by international terrorism increased due to the conflict in the Middle East. Risks to public safety also stemmed from the rising number of migrants from regions with heightened terrorist group activity, the interest of certain Latvian residents in radical interpretations of Islam, and the spread of both – right and left-wing extremist ideologies in society.
To mitigate threats to national security, VDD implemented a comprehensive set of countermeasures throughout the year, an overview of which is provided in the Annual Report. The report includes information on the main areas of activity of VDD: counterintelligence, protection of official secrets, protection of the constitutional order, security of the information space, economic security, counterterrorism, pre-trial investigation and dignitary protection.
The report also provides insight into several cases discovered by VDD last year, including espionage, malign activities assisting Russia’s interests, violations of the European Union sanctions and self-training for terrorism.
The Annual Report on the activities of VDD in 2024 is available on VDD website.
Information prepared by VDD
