Latvian State Security Service initiates criminal proceedings against European Parliament Deputy Tatjana Ždanoka for alleged cooperation with Russian intelligence services.

Intelligence & EspionageHuman Intelligence (HUMINT)Recruitment of locals

AggressorDefense

Summary

On March 16, 2024, the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) formally launched a criminal case against Tatjana Ždanoka, a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Latvian Russian Union, based on suspected cooperation with Russian special services. The investigation concerns alleged espionage activities dating back to 2013 and ongoing suspicions documented since 2016. VDD has stated that electronic correspondence was seized and is being examined for evidence that Ždanoka may have facilitated or shared sensitive information with Russian operatives, potentially compromising Latvia's security. Prior investigations have led to sanctions against her and others for security violations. This move illustrates ongoing concerns over Russian intelligence penetration efforts in Latvia and highlights VDD's active role in counterintelligence and national security protection.

Classification

Confidence: High

Classified as aggressor event because the article reports on suspected cooperation with Russian intelligence services indicating hostile espionage activity. Classified as defense preparation because Latvia's State Security Service is actively investigating and prosecuting suspected espionage to protect national security.

Source URL

https://lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/16.03.2024-vdd-sacis-kriminalprocesu-par-zdanokas-iespejamo-sadarbibu-ar-krievijas-specdienestiem.a546952

Open source

Provenance

Publisher: csv-import
Submitted: Feb 1, 2026, 00:14 UTC
Last updated: Nov 9, 2026, 01:04 UTC
Event time: Feb 22, 2024, 00:00 UTC

Published as a Defense Preparations signal with a public source and reviewer-approved assessment bands. See the methodology for how records are assessed.

Raw record

{
  "id": "1badb72a-8e74-4d0f-b91a-69326fb6a55d",
  "url": "https://lsm.lv/raksts/zinas/latvija/16.03.2024-vdd-sacis-kriminalprocesu-par-zdanokas-iespejamo-sadarbibu-ar-krievijas-specdienestiem.a546952",
  "source": "csv-import",
  "status": "approved",
  "category": "Intelligence & Espionage",
  "subcategory": "Human Intelligence (HUMINT)",
  "incident_type": "Recruitment of locals",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "source_reliability": "C",
  "info_credibility": "3",
  "tags": [
    "Latvia",
    "tatjana zdanoka",
    "russian intelligence operations",
    "Espionage",
    "State Security Service",
    "VDD",
    "European Parliament",
    "Counterintelligence",
    "Criminal investigation"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": null,
  "description": "The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) initiated criminal proceedings on March 16, 2024, against Tatjana Ždanoka, a Member of the European Parliament representing the Latvian Russian Union, over alleged collaboration with Russian intelligence agencies. The VDD spokesperson confirmed that the case involves examination of electronic correspondence and documents indicating possible coordinated activities with Russian special services, including suspected espionage and security breaches since 2013. Past investigations led to sanctions and public restrictions against Ždanoka. This represents an active counterintelligence effort by Latvia to investigate and prevent Russian espionage within national and European institutions. VDD emphasizes that the matter is under thorough legal and criminal procedural review.",
  "summary_short": "Latvian State Security Service initiates criminal proceedings against European Parliament Deputy Tatjana Ždanoka for alleged cooperation with Russian intelligence services.",
  "summary_extended": "On March 16, 2024, the Latvian State Security Service (VDD) formally launched a criminal case against Tatjana Ždanoka, a Member of the European Parliament and leader of the Latvian Russian Union, based on suspected cooperation with Russian special services. The investigation concerns alleged espionage activities dating back to 2013 and ongoing suspicions documented since 2016. VDD has stated that electronic correspondence was seized and is being examined for evidence that Ždanoka may have facilitated or shared sensitive information with Russian operatives, potentially compromising Latvia's security. Prior investigations have led to sanctions against her and others for security violations. This move illustrates ongoing concerns over Russian intelligence penetration efforts in Latvia and highlights VDD's active role in counterintelligence and national security protection.",
  "actor_primary": "Tatjana Ždanoka",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": null,
  "location_region": null,
  "location_coordinates_lat": null,
  "location_coordinates_lon": null,
  "location_precision": "Unknown",
  "is_aggressor_signal": true,
  "signal_type": "DEFENSE_PREP_SIGNAL",
  "is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
  "classification_complete": true,
  "hybrid_signal_complete": true,
  "classification_confidence": "High",
  "classification_rationale": "Classified as aggressor event because the article reports on suspected cooperation with Russian intelligence services indicating hostile espionage activity. Classified as defense preparation because Latvia's State Security Service is actively investigating and prosecuting suspected espionage to protect national security.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-02-22T00:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
  "created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:25.872Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T01:04:26.346Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "unknown",
  "time_precision_band": "within_24h",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "independent_sources"
}

Public assessmentReliability: StrongSeverity: ModerateAttribution: HighIndependence confirmedTime: Same dayLocation: Unknown

Source reliability

Info credibility

Event time

Feb 22, 2024, 00:00 UTC

Event time confidence

pm24h

Location

Land

Primary actor

Tatjana Ždanoka

Country

Latvia

Tags

Latvia, tatjana zdanoka, russian intelligence operations, Espionage, State Security Service, VDD, European Parliament, Counterintelligence, Criminal investigation

Loading signal...

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