Board Member of "Together for Latvia" Arrested on Suspicion of Passing Information to Russia

Iļja Podkolzins, a board member of the political party "Together for Latvia", has been detained and later remanded in custody as part of an investigation into the alleged transfer of sensitive information to Russian special services. According to TV3's program "Nekā personīga", Podkolzins is one of several individuals under scrutiny by the State Security Service (VDD) in connection with the activities of the group "Baltic Antifascists".

The group is accused of collecting and passing data on military objects, cargo, as well as individuals and companies supporting Ukraine to Russian authorities. The Telegram channel is run by Sergejs Vasiļjevs, who fled Latvia and forwarded the information to individuals linked to Russian special services.

Investigators have found that Podkolzins, using the alias "Vadim Sedov", sent information about objects at Riga Airport, including hangars and cargo. In 2023 and 2024, he traveled to Moscow multiple times to meet with Vasiļjevs. Riga Airport declined to comment on whether the leak caused any damage.

Party leader Aleksandrs Bartaševičs, who has known Podkolzins since school, expressed doubt about his guilt. Bartaševičs stated that Podkolzins holds an aircraft captain qualification and has worked as a pilot for several companies. Publicly available information shows that Podkolzins previously served as a Daugavpils city council deputy, headed the Latvian Investment and Development Agency's representation in Russia, worked as an economic attaché at the Latvian embassy, and was active in the aviation sector.

In total, six individuals in Latvia are suspected in connection with the "Baltic Antifascists" activities. Cases against two people have reached court, while several suspects have fled to Russia.