Expelled diplomat was buying secrets

RIGA - Alexander Rogozhin, the Russian diplomat expelled from Latvia last week, was buying secret information from Latvian officials, Latvian Interior Minister Mareks Seglins told journalists on Jan. 28.

The minister also said the names of the sellers had been established and they would be brought to justice.

Seglins added that those responsible deserved no tolerance. "It cannot be otherwise," Seglins said, adding though that he would abstain from making further judgements until he has received the necessary reports into the affair.

The minister promised to provide more details after a meeting of the National Security Council.

Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis, meanwhile, declined to comment on the news.

The Latvian Constitution Protection Bureau (SAB) has also declined to comment on the Russian diplomat's alleged spying activities in Latvia. The secret service's representative Iveta Maura told BNS that information on the expelled diplomat is being passed to the appropriate state officials. The Latvian authorities are not expected to open a criminal procedure, as there are no grounds for it, because counterintelligence operations have prevented any potential harm to national security.

SAB would not release more details for the time being, as they concern investigative work and state secrets.

The affair is the second time in as many weeks that doubts have been raised as to the trustworthiness of Latvian civil servants. An earlier enquiry into corrupt officials selling passports to individuals not entitled to them continues.