The Riga City Court on Monday sentenced a citizen of Azerbaijan to 11 years in prison for acquiring and supplying portable satellite internet systems and other goods for use by the Russian army in the war against Ukraine, LETA reports.
The court found the foreigner guilty of actions committed as part of an organized group aimed at helping a foreign state undermine the territorial integrity and political independence of another democratic state, as well as violating European Union sanctions, committed by a group of individuals in collusion, which caused significant damage, the prosecutor's office reported.
The court ruled to impose an 11-year prison sentence on the defendant, three years of probation supervision, and expulsion from Latvia with a five-year entry ban.
Regarding three other defendants — two citizens of Latvia and one non-citizen of Latvia — the criminal case was separated into a separate proceeding during the trial.
As reported earlier, in June 2025, the prosecutor submitted a criminal case against four individuals — one citizen of Azerbaijan, two citizens of Latvia, and one non-citizen — to the Riga City Court, accusing them of actions as part of an organized group aimed at helping a foreign state undermine the territorial integrity and political independence of another democratic state, as well as violating EU sanctions.
As a result of the organized group's activities, several dozen "Starlink Mini Kit" satellite internet systems from the American company SpaceX were ordered online, providing internet access from virtually any location, as well as other goods suitable for military use, including weapon parts, cartridges, bullets, and ballistic meteorological instruments, totaling approximately 200,000 euros.
The organized group imported these goods into Russia and sold them to individuals connected with the Russian armed forces, knowing that they were intended for use in military aggression against Ukraine, and being aware that part of these goods was subject to the EU ban on transfer to any individuals or legal entities, organizations, or structures in Russia.
The sale of these goods to individuals connected with the Russian army significantly threatened the security interests of Ukraine and international security, as it provided substantial support to Russia in waging war against Ukraine.
The pre-trial investigation in this case was conducted by the State Security Service.
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