In a previous post from April we reported on the 2024 annual report for Latvia’s FIU.
This included the statistic that 392 criminal proceedings had been commenced between 2022 and the end of 2024.
In an interview recently published with Global Investigations Review (behind a paywall), the head of Latvia’s National Customs Board has stated that Latvia has now brought a total of 453 criminal prosecutions.
This indicates that 61 new prosecutions have been brought so far in 2025.
It is being reported that the Latvia State Security Service has launched an investigation into the activities of the sanctioned entity “Pravfond”.
Pravfond is said to be a funding conduit by which the Russian state provides support for promoting Russia’s influence and interests abroad. It was designated under the EU’s Russian sanctioned in mid 2023.
The allegation is that it has continued to operate and provide funding despite being subject to the asset freeze.
It is being reported that Latvia’s State Security Service (the VDD) has launched a criminal investigation into alleged exports of sanctioned machinery and equipment from the KLC Group to buyers in Russia via Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
The investigation follows the publication of a media investigation by The Insider.
The exports, said to be equipment used for military manufacturing, are said to be valued at $1.3m and to have included products from a number of western manufacturers.
The Financial Intelligence Unit of Latvia has published its Financial Integrity Newsletter for its activity during 2024.
This includes a range of sanctions enforcement-related statistics:
The Newsletter does not provide figures on the outcomes (to date) of the 392 criminal proceedings.
It is being reported that Latvia’s State Security Service has referred four individuals for prosecution for alleged exports of satellite communications equipment for the Russian military in breach of EU sanctions and other Latvian laws.
The investigation is ongoing and it is reported that other individuals are suspected of being involved.
The goods exported were Starlink Mini satellite communication systems.
Lithuania’s State Security Department has issued a press release detailing raids and arrests carried out on 14 January of this year involving ten suspects.
The investigation was said to have been a collaborative effort also involving Estonia and Latvia.
The principal suspect is a Russian national who is alleged to have orchestrated the supply of high-tech equipment manufactured in Lithuania to Russian customers related to the Russian defence and security industry. He remains in custody. The other suspects have been released subject to conditions.
A pre-trial investigation has been commenced by the Vilnius Regional Prosecutor’s Office in relation to the suspects.
It has been reported that the Latvian authorities commenced 100 criminal cases for suspected sanctions violations during 2024.
In late October 2024 the figure was reported as 94, meaning that the final weeks of the year continued to see new criminal cases started.
The cases appear to be predominantly related to breaches of trade sanctions and the reporting states that the prohibited products included “engines, steel products and optical devices”.
It is being reported that the Kurzeme District Court has sentenced the Latvian citizen Valentins Rozencovs, to 2 years in jail.
The sentence was that sought by the prosecution, although the case is subject to appeal.
Rozencovs was the editor-in-chief of Sputnik Latvija which is the Latvian branch of Sputnik which operates under the umbrella of a Russian state-owned media company Rossiya Segodnya.
The Director General of Rossiya Segodnya is a designated person (Dmitry Kiselyov), and the prosecution was based on the premise that the provision of services by Valentins Rozencovs was making economic resources available to a designated person, and that Sputnik Latvija was “owned or controlled” by Kiselyov.
This is the latest in a series of prosecutions relating to Rossiya Segodnya – see our earlier posts, here and here.
It is being reported that a Belarusian businessman resident in Latvia is being prosecuted for alleged exports to Belarus in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The businessman, Igor Medved, is also reported to be preparing a guilty plea.
It is alleged that through his company, Nordwoc Limited, exports of sanctioned machinery have been made to Belarus. The precise type of machinery is not specified in the reports.
The investigation by the State Security Service was first made public in October 2023, at which time a freeze was also imposed on the shares of Nordwoc.
The prosecution is reported to be seeking a two-year custodial sentence, a fine of €225,000 and confiscation of €30,000 as well as confiscation of the shares of Nordwoc.
An article in Latvia’s LTV has provided an update on a number of features of Latvian sanctions enforcement.
Firstly, the Customs Administration stated that they had confirmed 2,623 breaches of sanctions so far this year up from 2,175 in 2023.
It was also stated that to date “€662,498.27 worth of goods have been confiscated in favor of the State in criminal proceedings for breach of sanctions”.
This is a substantially higher figure that those for confiscations identified in our recent post summarising Latvian convictions obtained in 2022 and 2023.
The article also stated that a total of 14 prosecutions had been brought in relation to the making available of economic resources to companies (i.e. the websites Sputnik and Baltnews) owned or controlled by Dmitry Kiselyov.
Two of those prosecutions ended in convictions in 2023 (as per our earlier post above), but the article adds that “This year [i.e. 2024], three more cases have ended in fines and community service”.
Lastly, the article adds that there have been two other convictions obtained during 2024, but that none of the 2024 judgments have yet entered into force.
Although not mentioned in the article, it has been confirmed to me by Paulis Iljenkovs of Latvia’s FIU (who has also consented to me sharing the information), that Latvia currently has 382 ongoing sanctions investigations.
