Latvian courts are prosecuting several espionage cases involving individuals passing information to Russian intelligence services, including financier Jevgenijs Okss, security guard Igors Andrejevs, and politician Iļja Podkolzins. These cases reflect a rise in espionage linked to ideological motives amid geopolitical tensions.

Several espionage cases have emerged in Latvian courts involving individuals gathering and passing information to Russian intelligence services. Jevgenijs Okss, a 73-year-old financier, has been in custody since mid-January on suspicion of spying for Russia by collecting information about two Latvia residents, a businessman named Vladimir and a university lecturer/IT specialist known as Roman, both frequent travelers to Russia. Okss passed this information to Sergejs Vasiljevs, linked to the pro-Kremlin “Baltic Anti-Fascists,” who fled to Moscow and forwarded the data to the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Okss met an FSB representative in Moscow facilitated by Vasiljevs. Four individuals have been charged with espionage via Vasiljevs. Another case involves shop security guard Igors Andrejevs, accused of gathering information on Ukraine supporters. Iveta Balode, wife of Vasiljevs and in custody, is charged with collecting data on critical infrastructure. Separately, Iļja Podkolzins pleaded guilty in a plea agreement and was sentenced to five years in prison plus probation for sharing intelligence on critical transport, logistics facilities, and Riga Airport security. Podkolzins had a political background as a former Daugavpils City Councilor and recent member of the Together for Latvia party but was dismissed. Prosecutor Mārtiņš Jansons noted that all accused acted driven by ideological motives without evidence of payment for spying. Since 2021, 33 espionage cases have been initiated, with seven this year, attributed to the current geopolitical tensions motivating hostile activities against Latvia in support of Russia.