RIGA 's At an extraordinary news conference Sep. 27, Latvian Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis stated that the country faces a serious threat from a well-organized criminal gang consisting of former and existing employees of the secret services.
The group has been active in Latvia recently, Kalvitis stated.
As well as security officers, the group includes former employees of the Soviet-era security services and has been involved in extortion and other criminal offenses, which means that no official can feel safe, according to the prime minister.
Kalvitis said he was set to discuss the issue with President Valdis Zatlers, as well as raising the question at a meeting of the National Security Council.
The prime minister claimed he knew the names of the officers involved in the criminal gang, but declined to reveal them in case it affected ongoing investigations.
Kalvitis stressed that it was unacceptable that such people were allowed to work in security services and maintain contacts with some politicians.
Despite the vague nature of Kalvitis' assertions, it seems obvious that his comments are an oblique reference to his suspension of KNAB anti-corruption chief Aleksejs Loskutovs.
Perhaps more peculiar is the fact that Kalvitis has chosen to go 'semi public' by admitting that an investigation is underway and giving a general idea of the people it is targeting, then refusing to give any details lest it should prejudice the investigation.
If the rogue agents hadn't started covering their tracks already, they certainly will be doing so now.
