Journalist: Russia recruiting spies in Latvia among pensioners and everyday professionals

Speaking on the program "FREEDOM", journalist and writer Imants Liepiņš said Russian intelligence services have shifted their approach to recruiting spies in Latvia. According to him, Moscow has been unable to find traitors within the ranks of Latvia's armed forces, so attention has turned to people with entirely ordinary occupations.

Liepiņš noted that Russian special services are showing interest in pensioners, taxi drivers, electricians and workers in other everyday fields. The advantage of such people, from an intelligence standpoint, is that their presence near military facilities or military activity does not immediately raise suspicion — it can easily be explained by their routine work duties.

Limited capacity to cause harm

As examples, the journalist pointed to several cases in which people with such ordinary professions were found to be involved in gathering information. However, Liepiņš stressed that the real ability of such agents to obtain truly significant information in Latvia remains relatively limited. He noted that Russian spies uncovered in Latvia so far have not caused substantial damage to national security.

Liepiņš's remarks were also covered by the Ukrainian outlet uatv.ua. The information is being viewed in the broader context of Russia's war in Ukraine, which has heightened attention among security agencies toward intelligence activity in the Baltic region.