VIDEO ⟩ VDD comments on the video published on the Internet, in which the occupying soldiers can be heard speaking Latvian

Recently, a video appeared on the Internet showing two men in military clothing with face masks sitting at a table. Boxes with thermal imagers-like items are placed on the table.

One of the men, having initially said good evening in Latvian, quickly announces the continuation in Russian: “The internationalist soldiers from the Baltics express their gratitude to Makarič, the Ryazan movement “Savējie” and the sponsors for the given thermal imagers, and we hope for a growing trend of anti-fascists who are ready to help at the front.”

The other man ends the first statement by saying in Latvian: “Thank you very much, friends.”

VDD admitted that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it has started one criminal trial on suspicion of illegal participation in an armed conflict. LETA already wrote last year that this case was initiated against a Latvian citizen who served in the National Armed Forces 15 years ago. The reason for retirement was disciplinary punishment for arbitrary absence.

At the same time, the service confirmed that the VDD is also checking information on possible illegal participation of other persons, including the individuals seen in the mentioned video, in the war in Ukraine on the side of the Russian armed forces.

Currently, the VDD does not provide further comments on such cases.

In previous years, the VDD had initiated and submitted criminal proceedings against Latvian nationals for fighting on the side of Russian-backed militias in Eastern Ukraine. Some of the defendants were arrested in Latvia and convicted, while the others were announced as international wanted persons.

On February 19, 2015, changes to the Criminal Law came into force, which prohibits illegal participation in armed conflicts in foreign countries.