Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) has detained a Russian citizen on suspicion of espionage, LSM reported. VDD searched five premises in and around Riga and confiscated a large volume of media and documents. VDD found that the person had collected and transferred information regarding critical infrastructure and military objects in Latvia for Russian intelligence. In…
Finnish authorities announced that the prime suspect in the damage to the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia is the Chinese cargo ship, NewNew Polar Bear, YLE reports. The damage to the gas pipeline and Finnish and Swedish telecommunications companies Elisa’s and Arelion’s data cables coincided with the ship’s journey, Reuters reported. The Finnish…
The Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland was damaged deliberately by human activity, Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stated, ERR reports. The undersea gas pipeline was closed due to a leak. Pictures taken at the scene indicated that the damage was done by “something greater than a diver or unmanned submersible,” Pevkur said. He…
Finnish authorities suspect that Russia attacked the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, Finnish daily Iltalehti reports. The undersea pipeline in the Gulf of Finland was closed due to a leak on 8 October 2023. At the same time, telecommunications operator Elisa’s data cable between Finland and Estonia was damaged as well, ERR reports. Finnish…
The Balticconnector gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland has been closed due to a possible leak, ERR reports. Finnish gas transmission system operator Gasgrid Finland reported that the 77-kilometre undersea pipeline experienced a pressure drop in the early hours of the morning of 8 October 2023. The cause of the problem and the location of…
The Baltic Assembly and the Nordic Council have agreed on new priorities of cooperation at their annual summit in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, BNS reports. In the 2024-2026 period, the two parliamentary cooperation organisations will focus on supporting Ukraine’s reconstruction and on defence against cyber threats and disinformation. Also, the eight parliaments will promote democracy…
Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has searched the offices of the municipal administration in Valmiera, LSM reports. KNAB detained Valmiera’s mayor, Janis Baiks, and other officials as part of the criminal investigation. The officials and representatives of several companies are suspected of misappropriating more than EUR 4mn of funds from the European Regional…
Turkish-owned Liepaja Steel has abandoned plans to resume production at its steel plant in the Latvian city of Liepaja, LETA reports. The company will dismantle the plant’s steel melting furnace and move the machinery to Türkiye. Liepaja Steel failed to reach agreement with the Liepaja city council and the Liepaja Special Economic Zone (Liepajas SEZ)…
Lithuanian commercial banks and other credit institutions are due to pay a total of over EUR 50mn in temporary solidarity tax by 31 August 2023, BNS reports. Banks will have to pay the full tax for 2023 by 15 June 2024. The tax is calculated based on net interest income that exceeds the average income…