She has obtained and passed on news that affects both daily developments in Latvia and the defense system and security of Latvia in general.
The prosecutor’s office does not provide more information about the content of the collected information at the moment.
However, the LETA agency found out that Tukhbatova’s criminal case is related to the case in which the activity of the criminal organization “Baltic Anti-Fascists” is assessed.
The State Security Service (VDD) previously informed the agency LETA that in November 2022, the association of persons calling themselves “Baltic anti-fascists” began to develop and coordinate activities directed against Latvia’s national security, using specially created communication groups on the “Telegram” platform.
The criminal organization purposefully and systematically used these channels for various activities directed against the interests of Latvia’s national security, including the illegal collection of undisclosed information and other information in order to hand it over to the Russian special services and other institutions.
Calls were regularly published on the channels to collect information about Latvian state officials, employees of state institutions, employees of security institutions, officials of the Latvian Armed Forces, Latvian nationals fighting on the side of Ukraine, as well as other natural and legal persons who have opposed Russian aggression with their actions.
Content continues after commercial
Advertising
Last fall, the prosecutor’s office brought charges against six Latvian nationals for leading the criminal organization “Baltic Antifascists” and participating in the crimes committed by this organization. Three of these persons are currently wanted.
At the same time, the prosecutor’s office brought two more persons to criminal responsibility for espionage. The cases of both of these persons were separated from the criminal trial of “Baltic anti-fascists”.
VDD previously informed that both of these persons were spying for Russia, performing specific tasks of “Baltic anti-fascists”. One of them was a taxi driver, and the other was Tukhbatova, LETA agency concluded, analyzing the information released by law enforcement officers.
In 2022, Tuhbatova ran in the elections from the list of the “Katram und katrai” party headed by Alda Gobzem at the time. From the information provided by Tuhbatova about herself at the time, it can be concluded that the woman lives relatively close to the Ādaži military base.
Tuhbatova’s criminal case was transferred to the Riga District Court at the end of last year, and the first court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, April 4 at 10 a.m.
The criminal law on espionage provides for deprivation of liberty from one to ten years, with or without confiscation of property, and with probation supervision of up to three years.
Last year’s activity report of the VDD states that in connection with the planned reorganization of Russia’s Western War Area, the intensity of Russian espionage in relation to Latvia could only increase even more in the near future.
The service has so far publicly informed about 20 persons detained since 2016 on suspicion of espionage and other activities threatening national security for the benefit of Russia or Belarus.
