{
  "id": "22a909e7-0b9d-4bc8-a1d1-652745fa20ac",
  "url": "https://vdd.gov.lv/en/news/press-releases/vdd-requests-criminal-prosecution-for-desecration-of-memorial-site-on-behalf-of-russian-intelligence-and-security-service",
  "source": "csv-import",
  "status": "approved",
  "category": "Societal & Cultural Pressure",
  "subcategory": "Vandalism / Symbolic Attacks",
  "incident_type": "Desecration of monuments, flags, religious sites",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "source_reliability": "C",
  "info_credibility": "3",
  "tags": [
    "memorial desecration",
    "Latvian Legion",
    "russian intelligence operations",
    "hybrid warfare",
    "baltic sea region",
    "symbolic attacks",
    "national security",
    "cross-border cooperation"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": null,
  "description": "On 29 November, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) requested the Prosecution Office to criminally prosecute a dual citizen of Estonia and Russia for assisting Russian intelligence and security services by desecrating an important Latvian memorial. On 29 January 2024, in Tukums municipality, Džūkste parish, the suspect and an accomplice poured red paint on the 'Memorial Stone to Defenders of the Kurzeme Fortification – soldiers of the Latvian Legion,' an act seen as a provocation to increase fear and insecurity benefiting Russian interests. The VDD initiated criminal proceedings on 8 February 2024 under Section 81 Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law concerning assistance to Russian intelligence threatening Latvia’s national security. One suspect was detained at the Pāternieki border and placed under arrest; the second suspect is held in Lithuania. The case was investigated jointly with Lithuanian and Estonian security services.",
  "summary_short": "On 29 January 2024, a dual citizen of Estonia and Russia desecrated a Latvian memorial in Tukums municipality on behalf of Russian intelligence, prompting Latvian State Security to request criminal prosecution.",
  "summary_extended": "On 29 January 2024, in Džūkste parish, Tukums municipality, Latvia, a person holding dual citizenship of Estonia and Russia, together with an accomplice, acting on behalf of Russian intelligence and security services, defaced the Memorial Stone to Defenders of the Kurzeme Fortification (Latvian Legion soldiers) by pouring red paint on it. The act was assessed as a provocation intended to increase insecurity and fear in Latvian society aligned with Russian interests. Similar acts were noted in other Baltic states. Latvian State Security Service (VDD) formally requested criminal prosecution on 29 November 2023 and initiated the case on 8 February 2024. One suspect was detained at the Pāternieki border control point and placed under arrest, while a second dual citizen of Estonia and Russia involved in the desecration is currently in Lithuanian custody. The investigation was conducted in close cooperation with Lithuanian and Estonian partner services.",
  "actor_primary": "dual citizen of Estonia and Russia",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": "Tukums municipality, Džūkste parish, Latvia",
  "location_region": null,
  "location_coordinates_lat": 56.879635,
  "location_coordinates_lon": 24.603189,
  "location_precision": "Approximate",
  "is_aggressor_signal": true,
  "signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
  "is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
  "classification_complete": true,
  "hybrid_signal_complete": true,
  "classification_confidence": "High",
  "classification_rationale": "The event clearly details an act of hostile aggression: desecration of a memorial on behalf of Russian intelligence, evaluated by Latvian security services as a provocatory act to undermine national security, with arrests and criminal prosecution initiated. No defensive or preparatory measures by allies are described in the event.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-01-29T00:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
  "created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:26.765Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T00:54:51.910Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "approximate",
  "time_precision_band": "within_24h",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "single_source"
}

{
  "id": "22a909e7-0b9d-4bc8-a1d1-652745fa20ac",
  "url": "https://vdd.gov.lv/en/news/press-releases/vdd-requests-criminal-prosecution-for-desecration-of-memorial-site-on-behalf-of-russian-intelligence-and-security-service",
  "source": "csv-import",
  "status": "approved",
  "category": "Societal & Cultural Pressure",
  "subcategory": "Vandalism / Symbolic Attacks",
  "incident_type": "Desecration of monuments, flags, religious sites",
  "country": "Latvia",
  "source_reliability": "C",
  "info_credibility": "3",
  "tags": [
    "memorial desecration",
    "Latvian Legion",
    "russian intelligence operations",
    "hybrid warfare",
    "baltic sea region",
    "symbolic attacks",
    "national security",
    "cross-border cooperation"
  ],
  "nodes": [],
  "countries": [],
  "where_text": "Land",
  "headline": null,
  "description": "On 29 November, Latvian State Security Service (VDD) requested the Prosecution Office to criminally prosecute a dual citizen of Estonia and Russia for assisting Russian intelligence and security services by desecrating an important Latvian memorial. On 29 January 2024, in Tukums municipality, Džūkste parish, the suspect and an accomplice poured red paint on the 'Memorial Stone to Defenders of the Kurzeme Fortification – soldiers of the Latvian Legion,' an act seen as a provocation to increase fear and insecurity benefiting Russian interests. The VDD initiated criminal proceedings on 8 February 2024 under Section 81 Paragraph 2 of the Criminal Law concerning assistance to Russian intelligence threatening Latvia’s national security. One suspect was detained at the Pāternieki border and placed under arrest; the second suspect is held in Lithuania. The case was investigated jointly with Lithuanian and Estonian security services.",
  "summary_short": "On 29 January 2024, a dual citizen of Estonia and Russia desecrated a Latvian memorial in Tukums municipality on behalf of Russian intelligence, prompting Latvian State Security to request criminal prosecution.",
  "summary_extended": "On 29 January 2024, in Džūkste parish, Tukums municipality, Latvia, a person holding dual citizenship of Estonia and Russia, together with an accomplice, acting on behalf of Russian intelligence and security services, defaced the Memorial Stone to Defenders of the Kurzeme Fortification (Latvian Legion soldiers) by pouring red paint on it. The act was assessed as a provocation intended to increase insecurity and fear in Latvian society aligned with Russian interests. Similar acts were noted in other Baltic states. Latvian State Security Service (VDD) formally requested criminal prosecution on 29 November 2023 and initiated the case on 8 February 2024. One suspect was detained at the Pāternieki border control point and placed under arrest, while a second dual citizen of Estonia and Russia involved in the desecration is currently in Lithuanian custody. The investigation was conducted in close cooperation with Lithuanian and Estonian partner services.",
  "actor_primary": "dual citizen of Estonia and Russia",
  "target_primary": null,
  "location_text": "Tukums municipality, Džūkste parish, Latvia",
  "location_region": null,
  "location_coordinates_lat": 56.879635,
  "location_coordinates_lon": 24.603189,
  "location_precision": "Approximate",
  "is_aggressor_signal": true,
  "signal_type": "HYBRID_SIGNAL",
  "is_hybrid_war_signal": true,
  "classification_complete": true,
  "hybrid_signal_complete": true,
  "classification_confidence": "High",
  "classification_rationale": "The event clearly details an act of hostile aggression: desecration of a memorial on behalf of Russian intelligence, evaluated by Latvian security services as a provocatory act to undermine national security, with arrests and criminal prosecution initiated. No defensive or preparatory measures by allies are described in the event.",
  "event_time_utc": "2024-01-29T00:00:00.000Z",
  "end_time_utc": null,
  "event_time_confidence": "pm24h",
  "created_at": "2026-02-01T00:14:26.765Z",
  "updated_at": "2026-11-09T00:54:51.910Z",
  "reliability_band": "strong",
  "location_precision_band": "approximate",
  "time_precision_band": "within_24h",
  "severity_band": "moderate",
  "attribution_confidence_band": "high",
  "attribution_basis": "single_source"
}