The State Security Service requests the initiation of criminal proceedings against four individuals suspected of arson against Latvia's railway infrastructure in the interests of Russia. The investigation believes that the perpetrators filmed the results of the attacks and sent reports to the client via Telegram.
The State Security Service (SSS) requested the prosecutor's office on May 21 to initiate criminal proceedings against four individuals in a case concerning the arson of Latvian railway facilities.
According to the investigation, the arsons were committed in the interests of Russia.
Three suspects were detained in January by the State Police in conjunction with the SSS. Another individual involved in the case was already in prison for other crimes at that time. According to the investigation, he acted as an intermediary — seeking out perpetrators and coordinating payment for assignments.
All suspects are currently in custody.
During the investigation, four instances of arson targeting railway facilities in Riga were identified. Three incidents occurred in the fall of last year, and one more in January of this year.
The investigation believes that the main perpetrator personally set fire to a distribution electrical cabinet and one relay cabinet. For other attacks, he recruited assistants.
The destroyed facilities were responsible for railway lighting and train traffic control systems.
Particular attention in the case was drawn to the method of reporting to the clients. According to the SSS, the arsons were filmed, and the recordings were sent via Telegram as confirmation of task completion.
In fact, this is not merely vandalism or sabotage for the sake of hooliganism, but rather targeted actions against critically important infrastructure.
Initially, the criminal proceedings were investigated by the State Police as cases of property destruction. However, later, after evidence of a possible connection with a foreign state emerged, the investigation was transferred to the SSS.
The suspects are charged with aiding a foreign state in activities against Latvia, as well as intentional destruction of property by arson.
This is not the first such case in recent months.
Previously, the SSS requested the initiation of criminal proceedings against two Latvian citizens born in 1999 and 2006, who are also accused of arson against railway infrastructure in the interests of Russia.
According to the investigation, they set fire to relay cabinets, lighting distribution cabinets, and a diesel locomotive using fuel and matches.
The total damage in that case is estimated at more than 372,000 euros.
Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and the rise of hybrid threats, the issue of infrastructure protection has become one of the key topics in the field of internal security for the Baltic states. The railway is viewed as a strategically important asset, linked not only to the economy but also to defense and logistics issues.
Leave a comment