Board member of party 'Together for Latvia' arrested for spying for Russia

The TV3 program 'Nekā personīga' reported on Sunday that VDD has detained Ilya Podkolzin, a board member of the party 'Kopā Latvijai'. A court has imposed detention on him for allegedly reporting to Russian services. Podkolzin previously served as a deputy in the Daugavpils city council and recently returned to politics, being elected to the board of the party led by former Rēzekne mayor Aleksandrs Bartaševičs.

The program stated that Podkolzin was arrested in an investigation into the activities of the group 'Baltic Anti-Fascists'. This group operates a Telegram channel that collects information about military cargo and supporters of Ukraine. The channel's leader is Sergejs Vasiļjevs, who fled Latvia and forwards received information to Sergejs Koļesņikovs, linked to Russian intelligence.

Leaked data shows that Podkolzin traveled to Moscow in October 2023 to meet Vasiļjevs. Afterward, he communicated under the alias 'Vadim Sedov' and sent photos and map markers of a hangar at Riga Airport. In late 2024, he visited Moscow again and reported on another airport object. Riga Airport declined to comment on the information's accuracy or potential damage.

Party leader Aleksandrs Bartaševičs admitted to the program that he recommended Podkolzin for the board because they are classmates and cannot imagine him committing such a crime. Riga City Council deputy Vladislavs Bartaševičs said he knows the detainee as his father's classmate. Ainārs Šlesers, leader of the party 'Latvija pirmajā vietā', stated that such actions are condemnable if proven true.

Podkolzin was a pilot, worked for several airlines, headed the Latvian Investment and Development Agency's office in Russia, and served as an economic attaché. He owned shares in the Bartaševič family businesses. In 2009, he ran in municipal elections from the 'Harmony' list.

The program concluded that six people in Latvia are suspected of creating the 'Baltic Anti-Fascists' channel, but only two have been charged. The others, including Aleksandrs Žguns, have fled to Russia.