Media: Investigation launched into Latvian MEP’s ties with Russia’s FSB

The Latvian State Security Service has launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Tatjana Ždanoka, a Latvian politician…

Mar 16, 2024 - 16:13
Media: Investigation launched into Latvian MEP’s ties with Russia’s FSB

The Latvian State Security Service has launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Tatjana Ždanoka, a Latvian politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP), has been spying for Russian intelligence services, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

Reports regarding Ždanoka’s ties emerged in 2024 following an article by The Insider, an investigative newspaper. The article said that the Latvian MEP collaborated with the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) for an extended period, promoting pro-Kremlin sentiments within her native Baltic region.

Later, Ždanoka denied the reports, saying that she didn’t cooperate with international intelligence agencies.

The ongoing investigation conducted by the Latvian State Security Service reveals that Ždanoka actively communicated with Russian individuals, who are FSB agents, exchanging correspondence that included reports on her activities within Latvia.

In a statement to the Latvian Re:Baltica, Ždanoka neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the emails or her connections with their Russian recipients. However, she declined to comment on the content of her communications, stating that access to the emails was obtained unlawfully.

Ždanoka’s tenure as a Member of the European Parliament is set to expire this year. Earlier, she faced expulsion from the European Green Party faction after she refused to condemn Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. 

We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society.

A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support.

Become a Patron!