In the past two weeks, at least three people associated with the 'Baltic Anti-Fascists' group have been arrested, reports TV3.
The arrests are based on documents that have come into the possession of the 'Dossier Center' organization of the disgraced Russian oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky. These materials indicate that the 'Baltic Anti-Fascists' are not just a group of admirers of Russia, but a structure that is trying to infiltrate drone manufacturing enterprises in Latvia, gathering information on the movement of military equipment, and recording data on those who donate to Ukraine or wear Ukrainian symbols, TV3 reports.
For example, a security guard at one of the stores, Igor A., reported visitors with Ukrainian symbols and car license plates to Russian special services, transmitted personal data of people obtained at his workplace, and committed other actions.
The TV3 program met this man at his workplace in the Ziepniekkalns area of Riga. After showing interest, A. broke the video camera and fled, but was soon detained by the police, and the court chose a preventive measure in the form of arrest against him.
As previously reported by the State Security Service (SSS), the group of individuals calling themselves the 'Baltic Anti-Fascists' began to deploy and coordinate activities aimed against the national security of Latvia, using specially created communication groups in the Telegram messenger for this purpose. The criminal proceedings against this group were initiated by the VDD more than three years ago.
Currently, two members of the group are being tried in Latvia — Tatyana Andriec and Alexander Zhgun. The others — Sergey Vasilyev, Viktoria Matule, Roman Samuļ, and Stanislav Bukain — have left for Russia or Belarus.
The information received by the Telegram channel was reported by the project of Russian opposition figures in exile, the 'Dossier Center,' funded by billionaire Khodorkovsky.
Vasilyev transmits information obtained through the 'anti-fascist' channel, while a certain Kolesnikov transfers money and assists with residency documentation in Russia, TV3 reports. Several messages forwarded by Vasilyev from Latvia came from the aforementioned supermarket guard. He sent photos from the store's surveillance cameras of people wearing Ukrainian symbols on their clothing, as well as indicated the license plate numbers of the cars they arrived in.
The guard also sent videos of a drunk man whom he apparently detained. It can be heard that the guard speaks in Russian, and the intoxicated man responds: 'Glory to Ukraine!'. The guard sent a photo of this person's ID card with all personal data.
He gathered information outside of work as well — about supporters of Ukraine from television shows, social media, and about stores that displayed Ukrainian flags. In one of the photos, the photographer is visible in the reflection. Kolesnikov and Vasilyev note that this is unprofessional. In response, the guard justifies that it was not him, but a certain friend, and sends his own photo as proof.
In another message, he sent a screenshot from the CSDD database with information about one vehicle. It is clear that the user of the system is a person named Igor. To some photos of store visitors, he added locations — 'Maxima' in Sarkandaugava and 'Lidl' on Valdeku Street.
The wife of Vasilyev, Iveta B., has also been detained. According to Kolesnikov's materials, she also reported on the movement of military equipment and regularly traveled from Latvia to Russia.
On Friday, the court also ordered the arrest of Yevgeny O., who works in the financial sector and is a close friend of Vasilyev. His name also appears in the leaked documents. O. regularly traveled to Russia and met there with Vasilyev, who, in turn, introduced him to his curator Kolesnikov.
Vasilyev receives images from Latvia from social media of users supporting Ukraine or organizing the delivery of cars to the combat zone. He is sent lists of donors and informed about comments on social media. Vasilyev transmits this information to his curator with the comment that it will be useful for a 'catalog,' TV3 reports.
One person informed Vasilyev about a health goods store on Jūrmala gatve, near which cars with Ukrainian license plates were parked from time to time, leading to the conclusion that they were likely helping Ukrainians. Messages also came regarding the charity organization 'ziedot.lv'. The head of the organization, Ruta Dimanta, told the program that she regularly sees suspicious people at events and near the office.
Vasilyev's correspondence also reveals that his people tried to infiltrate drone manufacturing enterprises in Latvia — attempting to get jobs, posing as suppliers and foreign partners. They searched social media for employees of such enterprises and gathered information about them.
The SSS officially reports that it has initiated a criminal case on the fact of espionage and has detained several people in connection with it this month.
