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Signal
Submitted
Feb 26, 2026, 13:19 UTC
Latvian State Security Service seeks criminal prosecution against a Russian citizen with permanent residence for justifying Russia's war crimes and inciting national hatred, with the suspect taken into custody.
The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) on 20 February 2026 asked the Prosecution Office to criminally prosecute a Russian citizen for publicly justifying Russian war crimes in Ukraine and for inciting national and ethnic hatred against Latvians and Ukrainians. The suspect holds a permanent residence permit in Latvia since 30 October 2025. Investigation revealed multiple posts on Telegram and other platforms spreading hate narratives. Previously, on 7 December 2025, VDD conducted criminal searches at two locations in Riga and Ogre, seizing data storage devices for analysis. The suspect was detained as a security measure. VDD reminded that guilt is to be determined in court according to law procedures.
Confidence: High
The event concerns Latvian authorities targeting a Russian resident for public justification of Russian war crimes and incitement of hate, which constitutes hostile aggressor activity (disinformation and incitement) within Latvia. It is an official law enforcement action, clearly representing aggressor-related hybrid tactics under legal pressure node 2. No defense preparations are described.
Source URL
https://vdd.gov.lv/en/news/press-releases/vdd-seeks-criminal-prosecution-against-a-russian-citizen-for-justifying-war-crimes-and-triggering-national-hatred
Source reliability
A
Info credibility
2
Event time
Feb 20, 2026, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
unknown
Location
Riga and Ogre
Primary actor
Russian citizen
Country
Latvia
Tags
criminal prosecution, russian citizens, justification of war crimes, national hatred, latvian security service, VDD, Telegram, russia–ukraine war, disinformation, ethnic hatred, lawfare
Nodes
Node 2: 5th Column
Signal
Submitted
Feb 26, 2026, 13:19 UTC
Latvian State Security Service seeks criminal prosecution against a Russian citizen with permanent residence for justifying Russia's war crimes and inciting national hatred, with the suspect taken into custody.
The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) on 20 February 2026 asked the Prosecution Office to criminally prosecute a Russian citizen for publicly justifying Russian war crimes in Ukraine and for inciting national and ethnic hatred against Latvians and Ukrainians. The suspect holds a permanent residence permit in Latvia since 30 October 2025. Investigation revealed multiple posts on Telegram and other platforms spreading hate narratives. Previously, on 7 December 2025, VDD conducted criminal searches at two locations in Riga and Ogre, seizing data storage devices for analysis. The suspect was detained as a security measure. VDD reminded that guilt is to be determined in court according to law procedures.
Confidence: High
The event concerns Latvian authorities targeting a Russian resident for public justification of Russian war crimes and incitement of hate, which constitutes hostile aggressor activity (disinformation and incitement) within Latvia. It is an official law enforcement action, clearly representing aggressor-related hybrid tactics under legal pressure node 2. No defense preparations are described.
Source URL
https://vdd.gov.lv/en/news/press-releases/vdd-seeks-criminal-prosecution-against-a-russian-citizen-for-justifying-war-crimes-and-triggering-national-hatred
Source reliability
A
Info credibility
2
Event time
Feb 20, 2026, 00:00 UTC
Event time confidence
unknown
Location
Riga and Ogre
Primary actor
Russian citizen
Country
Latvia
Tags
criminal prosecution, russian citizens, justification of war crimes, national hatred, latvian security service, VDD, Telegram, russia–ukraine war, disinformation, ethnic hatred, lawfare
Nodes
Node 2: 5th Column