Security service warns: Latvians who relocated to Belarus may be used in hybrid war tactics

A Latvian Television investigative program, "De facto", has drawn attention to what appears to be a new hybrid warfare method: flooding supporters of Ukraine in Latvia with complaints and formal submissions to overwhelm them.

Filings originating from Belarus

At the center of the reporting is Dmitry Matajev, who relocated to Belarus after being released from detention. Although he himself is no longer in Latvia, the association he represents continues to actively file submissions and lawsuits with Latvian state institutions and courts.

This activity places an additional burden on Latvian authorities and the judicial system, which must process the inspections and legal proceedings triggered by the association's filings.

Warning from the security service

Latvia's State Security Service (VDD) has commented cautiously on the matter, declining to name specific individuals. However, the agency issued a clear warning that certain Latvian nationals who have relocated to aggressor states could potentially be used to carry out hybrid activities directed against Latvia.

This tactic is seen as one of many faces of hybrid warfare, alongside already-known methods such as cyberattacks, artificially created migration pressure, and disinformation campaigns. Unlike those methods, this approach exploits legal and administrative systems, using formally lawful tools — official submissions and court claims — to pressure supporters of Ukraine within Latvia.