In Latvia Yesterday, 20:3012 Latvian citizens detained on suspicion of espionage for Russia have close ties with law enforcement authorities and SRS

Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB, which was also briefly headed by Vladimir Putin in the late 1990s, reports directly to the Russian president. The FSB is actually the successor of the State Security Committee and the NKVD with extensive powers and around 350 thousand employees. It was FSB high-ranking operatives who tried to poison Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny with Novichok. Most likely, this special service was given the task of eliminating the leader of the “Wagner” mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin after the rebellion against Putin, according to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. The FSB collects information and supports Putin in his bloody war in Ukraine.

At the beginning of August, the State Security Service detained Latvian citizens on suspicion of actions against the security of Latvia and its citizens, carried out on behalf of the FSB.

Three persons were arrested, one was given a non-custodial security measure. The Riga District Court rejected the appeals a few days ago, which means that they will remain in custody.

“Nothing personal” these persons are known, have had and still have a connection with Latvian law enforcement institutions and their employees.

Former State Police officer Raita Dolgov, businessman Igor Bobir and lawyer Aleksandar Ryabikina are suspected of providing assistance to the special service of the hostile state. Little is publicly known about them.

In 2005, Igor Bobir was granted Latvian citizenship by naturalization procedure. For many years, he managed the Security Service of the insurance company BTA. Currently, he is a co-owner and board member of several private companies.

Until 2005, Raitis Dolgovs was a Criminal Police Inspector in the Riga Region in the State Police. Later, he was hired in the BTA security service headed by Bobira. In recent years, he has been working as a private detective. The website of the State Police shows that he received the certificate in 2000.

The third detainee is the lawyer Alexander Ryabikin. He acts as a judge in the Commercial Arbitration Court. Ryabikin owns companies that are registered in the property owned by Igor Bobir in Klijanu street in Riga. And there is also a joint venture with Bobir “RC 7 Group.” Both are also active in the Certification Academy foundation, which is in the process of liquidation.

Wright Doglow still has a connection with Bobir. His company “Meža biotops”, which buys up properties, is registered at the address of Klijanu street. Andrejs Podrezs, a former employee of law enforcement and security institutions, is also a co-owner of this company. Podrez is Dolgov’s defender in the VDD criminal investigation.

During the searches of the detainees, the State Security Service found devices intended for illegal operational activities.

Bobir’s lawyer, Jānis Dambītis, admits that Bobir may have had such devices left over from the times when he worked in the insurance business. Dambitis also explains that Bobir had to communicate with employees of many law enforcement agencies due to the specifics of his work. Including the main operational employee of KNAB, later member of the Saeima Juri Juraš.

One such meeting is recorded in the materials of the criminal proceedings in connection with the offer of a million bribe to Juras. In the autumn of 2015, not only fellow students Dambītis and Jurāš met in the pub “Brālis”, but Bobir was also present in the conversation. Bobir describes Juraš as a good acquaintance. The entrepreneur is also mentioned as the buyer of rural property in Juraš.

The State Security Service does not reveal what FSB tasks were performed by Bobir, Dolgov and Ryabikin and did not agree to an interview. A large amount of data carriers and documents were seized during the searches.

One of the detainees also has ties to the SRS

The investigation started by the State Security Service also casts a shadow on the State Revenue Service. Rait Dolgov was searched at the farm he shares with his divorced wife, who holds a high position in the State Revenue Service. Natalya Dolgova has been granted permission to work with a state secret.

Dolgov was once chosen as his deputy by the head of the Internal Security Department of the SRS, Aigars Prusaks. In her administration, she holds the position of head of the Pre-Trial Investigation Department. The Internal Security Administration of the SRS should investigate the actions of possible dishonest SRS auditors, customs officers and police officers. It can quickly gather information, observe, listen to conversations. Living together with the arrested Dolgov is a serious reputational risk not only for Natalia Dolgov’s work, but for the entire service, according to the Minister of Finance.

The SRS replied to the program that it had not received information from the State Security Service about the search of its employee’s residence and that there was currently no legal basis for her suspension. It is unofficially known that Dolgova has currently taken a sick leave.

The criminal proceedings of the VDD have been started according to the article of the Criminal Law on joining an organized group with the aim of carrying out an activity directed against the Republic of Latvia. As a measure of punishment, both deprivation of liberty and a fine are provided.

The head of the National Security Commission of the Saeima, Jānis Dombrava, draws attention to the fact that recently, those caught for crimes against the state are not punished by deprivation of liberty, but instead ordered to pay a fine.

The member of the National Union refers to the case when the pro-Russian activist, editor of the Russian media “Sputnik Lietuva”, Marat Kasem, was arrested in connection with real assistance to a possible Russian invasion, preparing support for sabotage, but the General Prosecutor’s Office agreed on a penalty of 15 thousand euros, because “the accused has made conclusions and assessed the inadmissibility of his actions”.

The State Police issues a certificate for detectives for five years. Raitis Dolgov had received it in 2020. At the moment, the investigation at the State Police has started. If information is received about a person’s reputation or security risks, the certificate for detectives is revoked.