On 29 November, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) asked the Prosecution Office to initiate criminal prosecution against a citizen of Latvia for violating the prohibition to serve in the armed forces of Russia, for unlawful participation in the war against Ukraine, siding with Russia's armed forces, as well as for illegal State border crossing.
VDD initiated the criminal case against the person on 8 October 2024 pursuant to Section 951 of the Criminal Law, namely for violation of the prohibition to serve in Russia’s armed forces as prescribed by the National Security Law. According to the information at the disposal of VDD, the person concluded the military service contract with Russia’s armed forces.
During the investigation, VDD established that the person had participated in the warfare in Ukraine. In this regard, VDD additionally qualified the person’s activities on the basis of Section 771 of the Criminal Law, i.e. as active unlawful participation in an armed conflict taking place outside the territory of the Republic of Latvia.
On 7 October, the State Border Guard (SBG) officials detained this Latvian citizen in Šķilbēni parish as the person attempted to illegally cross Latvian border from Russia. SBG initiated a criminal case against the perpetrator pursuant to Section 284 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Law, i.e., for intentional illegal crossing of the external State border. VDD took over this criminal case, continuing the investigation of the criminal offence established by the SBG within the criminal case of VDD.
Information prepared by: VDD
Photo: VDD
