KNAB launches probe into allegations of bribery of Latvian law enforcement by Navalny's team

RIGA - The Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) has launched a departmental probe into allegations made in a film produced by the team of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny that Latvian law enforcement officers may have helped Leonid Nevzlin, a former management representative of Russian oil company Yukos, to target Kremlin opponents in exchange for bribes, LETA has learned.

LETA also contacted the Internal Security Bureau (ISB) to find out whether the bureau would examine the allegations made in the film. The bureau replied that it understood the heightened interest in the information that had been leaked, but that it could not comment.

On September 18, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis told TV3 that Latvia takes very seriously the allegations made in the film about the possible bribery of Latvian law enforcement officers. Kozlovskis said that the filmmakers initially appeared to have "made a cocktail" of different facts in an attempt to play games, and initially it seems the allegations against Latvian law enforcement officers are false. 

As reported, a recent film released to the public by Navalny's associates claims to have obtained correspondence of Nevzlin which shows that he organized an attack on close Navalny associate Leonid Volkov in March 2024, and that the activities organized by Nevzlin involved Latvian law enforcement officers.

Aiga Eiduka, press secretary of the Latvian Prosecutor's Office, told LETA that the prosecutor's office was aware of a publicly available documentary which, among other things, alleged that the team of former Yukos co-owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky had bribed Latvian police officers and prosecutors to open criminal cases against Russian opposition figures. The prosecutor's office will not provide information before assessing the allegations made in the documentary.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Department of the State Police (VP) told LETA that the VP is aware of the documentary and the allegations made in it, which also concern the police. "We categorically reject the allegations of corruption of police officers. Pending an assessment by the competent authorities, the State Police will refrain from further comment," the police said.