The State Police, in connection with the published materials of the case of the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is preparing requests for legal assistance in the USA, said the head of the State Police, Armands Ruks, in the Latvian television program "Morning Panorama."
The police hope to obtain more detailed information about the incident in order to work with specific facts, because otherwise they are just "going in circles," said Ruks. He urged individuals and organizations with specific factual information about the involvement of Latvian citizens in the Epstein case to contact the police, which guarantees confidentiality and anonymity.
Ruks acknowledged that the investigation of the Epstein case in Latvia will not be easy - it is not a routine matter, as it involves investigating events that occurred about 20 years ago. It is no secret that at that time Riga was known as a capital of sex tourism, and prostitutes could be seen on the streets at night, but much has changed for the better since then, although a lot has moved to the online environment, said the police chief.
He expressed bewilderment as to why Latvia had not received requests for legal assistance and cooperation from the US authorities at the time when the events described in Epstein's files could have taken place.
As stated by Attorney General Armins Meisters to Latvian Radio, initial communication with US law enforcement agencies suggests that such cooperation is possible, as the American side has demonstrated its willingness to cooperate.
"This channel of legal assistance or cooperation in such cases works quite quickly," he said, allowing that Latvia could receive the requested information within two to three months.
At the same time, the police will continue to analyze information available in the public domain, he said.
Meisters reported that three prosecutors are involved in this process, including one whose professional duties are related to international cooperation, and another who has experience in combating human trafficking.
As reported, the State Police has initiated a criminal process in connection with the files of the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, which were made public at the end of January, in which Latvia is mentioned as one of the alleged locations for the recruitment of underage girls.
