On January 29, 2024, investigative reporting revealed that Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament, has been an operative for Russian intelligence, specifically the FSB, for over two decades. Emails obtained between Zdanoka and her FSB handlers Dmitry Gladey and Sergei Beltyukov exposed her role in espionage, including forwarding intelligence reports and facilitating operations within European institutions in Brussels near NATO and EU headquarters. Gladey, associated with the FSB Fifth Service tasked with political destabilization efforts, ran her from 2004 to 2013 before handing her off to Beltyukov. Zdanoka maintained close meetings with her handlers and provided information on parliamentary activities favoring Russia. She also helped facilitate visas for other FSB operatives. Despite facing legal limitations due to parliamentary immunity and Latvian laws, the discovery of this espionage network inside European institutions highlights ongoing Russian infiltration efforts aimed at political destabilization and influence in Baltic and European security environments. Latvia’s counterintelligence confirmed they are investigating the case. The European Parliament has launched internal inquiries into the matter.

On January 29, 2024, investigative reporting revealed that Tatjana Zdanoka, a Latvian member of the European Parliament, has been an operative for Russian intelligence, specifically the FSB, for over two decades. Emails obtained between Zdanoka and her FSB handlers Dmitry Gladey and Sergei Beltyukov exposed her role in espionage, including forwarding intelligence reports and facilitating operations within European institutions in Brussels near NATO and EU headquarters. Gladey, associated with the FSB Fifth Service tasked with political destabilization efforts, ran her from 2004 to 2013 before handing her off to Beltyukov. Zdanoka maintained close meetings with her handlers and provided information on parliamentary activities favoring Russia. She also helped facilitate visas for other FSB operatives. Despite facing legal limitations due to parliamentary immunity and Latvian laws, the discovery of this espionage network inside European institutions highlights ongoing Russian infiltration efforts aimed at political destabilization and influence in Baltic and European security environments. Latvia’s counterintelligence confirmed they are investigating the case. The European Parliament has launched internal inquiries into the matter.