During the holiday season and the school summer holidays, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) reminds Latvian citizens that travel to aggressor state Russia and its ally Belarus is associated with high risks of intelligence, recruitment and provocations.
VDD draws attention that Latvian institutions have limited possibilities to help their nationals who are facing difficulties in Russia or Belarus.
VDD has established that the intelligence and security services of Russia and Belarus aggressively use the opportunity to interrogate and recruit foreigners in their territory, where they have wide discretion. Intelligence and security services of Russia and Belarus within the territory of their respective country will not hesitate to use aggressive and illegal methods to force someone into collaborating.
The Service also draws attention to the fact that officials of state and local institutions, employees of law enforcement agencies, persons whose occupation allows them to access information related to the National Armed Forces or NATO allied forces, representatives of strategically important companies, as well as individuals that are involved in providing support for Ukraine are at a particular risk of being recruited. Similarly, Russian intelligence services consider Latvian nationals who have a necessity to regularly travel to Russia (profession, relatives, friends, properties or any other ties) as easy targets, which allows the services to exert influence over them.
In light of the above mentioned, VDD strictly recommends against visiting Russia and Belarus. However, if travelling to one of these aggressor states cannot be avoided, VDD recommends not taking your mobile phone with you, especially if it contains information related to your professional activity or otherwise sensitive information. At the border control point data can be extracted from your mobile phone, and it can also be infected with spyware. In this case, the safest choice is a mobile phone with a pre-paid SIM card, which can be discarded after the travel. You should also avoid bringing your computer, USB sticks and other data mediums.
Identification of potential recruitment objectives already takes place at the border control points, as the officers of the intelligence and security service present themselves as border guards or use other covers – those of law enforcement institutions or any other institution of Russia and Belarus. Moreover, officers of Russia’s and Belarus’ intelligence and security services can obtain information that is crucial to them even during a simple conversation.
VDD suggests to note the below stated signs that may indicate contact with an officer from Russia’s or Belarus’ intelligence and security service during the border crossing:
- unusually expanded inspection and questioning;
- the person performing the questioning is wearing civilian clothing instead of the border guard uniform;
- the person asks questions outside the border guard competence, such as situation in Latvia, attitude towards developments in Ukraine, war refugees that have entered Latvia, Latvia’s support to Ukraine;
- questions of private nature are asked – place of employment, professional duties, financial situation;
- you are presented with charges of committing an offence or crime, thus trying to force you to collaborate in exchange for dropping the charges;
- you are given a phone number to call next time you are in the respective country.
In case of suspicions about contact with an officer of Russia’s or Belarus’ intelligence and security services, VDD urges to inform the Service about it either over the 24/7 phone +371 67208964 or via e-mail info(abols)vdd.gov.lv. VDD guarantees the confidentiality of the information provider.
Information prepared by VDD
Photo by VDD
