Latvian Intelligence Identifies Russian and Belarusian GRU Officers
Latvia's Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) has publicly named six Russian GRU officers and one Belarusian GRU officer involved in espionage activities targeting Latvia.
Latvia's Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIDD) has publicly identified six officers from Russia's Main Directorate of the General Staff (GRU) and one from Belarus's GRU, accusing them of conducting espionage activities against Latvia. The Russian officers named are Major Alexey Pizhikov, Captain 2nd Rank Alexey Lesnikov, Captain 2nd Rank Nikolay Chetverikov, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Yushin, Colonel Alexander Gladkov, and Grigory Ivanov. The Belarusian officer identified is Sergei Baranov.
MIDD highlighted the activities of Russian GRU officer Grigory Ivanov, born in 1989, who has been active against Latvia since 2017. Ivanov is believed to have organized the acquisition of intelligence on private aviation infrastructure, such as the Spilve airfield, the presence of NATO allied forces in the country, and various developments in Latvia's defense sector. He reportedly obtained information about public sentiment in Latvia, assistance provided to Ukraine, and critical infrastructure facilities by leveraging a distant relative residing in Latvia.
The MIDD noted that intelligence centers located in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, and Smolensk are responsible for building regional spy networks at the operational-tactical level. These centers are particularly active in recruiting Latvian nationals who regularly travel to Russia and Belarus.
The MIDD also pointed out that Belarus conducts intelligence gathering in the interests of Russia, with its military intelligence considered a "branch" of the Russian GRU. Additionally, until February 2022, Russian GRU officers served at the Russian Embassy in Latvia under the cover of defense or military attaché officers. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, all identified GRU officers at the Russian embassy were expelled from Latvia.
The MIDD is one of Latvia's three security and intelligence services, alongside the Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB) and the State Security Service (VDD).
