On 21 May 2026, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) asked the Prosecution Office to initiate criminal prosecution against four individuals for the arson of Latvian railway objects in the interests of a foreign state.
Three of the suspects were detained by the State Police in cooperation with VDD in January 2026, while the fourth person, who acted as an intermediary by finding the main executor of the tasks and coordinating the payment for completed tasks, was already incarcerated for the commission of another crime. All of the suspects are currently in custody.
The investigation identified four arson cases of railway objects in Riga, of which three were perpetrated in October 2025, whereas one – in January 2026. The main executor of the tasks individually committed arson of one electric switchboard and one relay cabinet, whereas for the arson of two other relay cabinets the perpetrator involved a different accomplice for each arson. The electrical switchboard destroyed during the arson was designated for railway lighting, while the relay cabinets – for train movement control systems. The arson of the railway objects was filmed and sent to the tasker on the "Telegram" application as proof of the completion of the tasks.
Criminal cases for these instances of intentional destruction of property of another were initiated by the State Police, working in close cooperation with VDD since the start of the case. When the investigation revealed that the same individual was involved in all of the cases of arson, these criminal cases were combined into one. In turn, having obtained evidence that the arson of railway objects was carried out in the interests of a foreign state, VDD took the criminal case over from the State Police on 6 February 2026 for further investigation in accordance with its jurisdiction.
VDD incriminates the suspects with the commission of crimes stipulated in Section 811 Paragraph 2 and Section 185 Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law, namely, assistance to a foreign state in action directed against Latvia committed by a group of persons and the intentional destruction of property of another by arson.
VDD reminds that no person shall be considered guilty until the guilt of such person has been determined in accordance with the procedures laid down in law.
Information prepared by VDD
Illustrative photo, VDD
