Latvia’s State Security Service (the VDD) is seeking the prosecution of two Latvian nationals accused of providing project management services to Russian companies.
This is one of few known prosecutions for breaching the EU’s professional services prohibitions. It is alleged that the individuals were co-owners of a company through which the services were provided.
The investigation started in January of this year.
In evidence before the European Parliament last week (timed at 11:29), and in a LinkedIn post today, Paulis Iljenkovs, the Deputy Head of Latvia’s FIU, has stated that Latvia currently has more than 600 criminal investigations (mostly into breaches of trade sanctions) ongoing into alleged Russian sanctions breaches.
It is being reported that the Latvian authorities have been conducting multiple investigations into suspected imports of urea from Belarus in breach of the EU’s sanctions.
The investigations are reported to be focussed on four Latvian companies and were commenced in July.
After a referral from the Customs Administration the VID Tax and Customs Police Department initially declined to prosecute, but that decision is now the subject of an appeal brought by the Customs Administration and Latvia’s FIU.
Latvia’s Customs has issued a press release providing details on a recent confiscation proceeding, and providing some data on confiscation proceedings over all.
The press release states that 91 proceedings have been commenced to confiscate criminal property arising from breaches of EU sanctions.
It is noted that to date 57 of these proceedings have resulted in the confiscation of assets totalling €1,935,683.
The particular recent case outlined in the press release relates to the confiscation of a truck and trailer that had been stopped and searched at the Terekhova customs point. Officers suspected that the truck was itself being exported, and an investigation was commenced.
By court decision of 9 June 2025 the truck and its trailer, valued at €52,500, were confiscated.
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.
