Latvian authorities initiate criminal case against programmer for working with Russian firm
The Latvian State Security Service (VDD) has petitioned the prosecutor’s office to open a criminal case against a local resident — an ordinary programmer suspected of violating European Union sanctions due to his remote work for a Russian company. He faces up to five years in prison.
The criminal proceedings began in April 2025 after Latvian authorities found that since 2022 the programmer had been working remotely for a Russian company, receiving his salary for several months in an account at a sanctioned bank. This case highlights Latvia’s increased enforcement of EU sanction regulations.
This development may set new legal precedents in sanction violations and serve as a warning to citizens about the consequences of cooperating with sanctioned entities.
