Based on the risks to Latvia’s national security identified by VDD, the Minister of Interior Māris Kučinskis has included three SIA "Pobeda Confectionery" owners in the list of foreigners, who are prohibited from entering the Republic of Latvia.
In March 2023, VDD started verification of a suspicion of the engagement of the company "Pobeda Confectionery" registered in Latvia in providing support to Russia’s armed forces. VDD had received information that the Russian-based confectionery company "Pobeda" may have donated a large amount of products to Russia’s armed forces, which is committing war crimes, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity in Ukraine. The company "Pobeda Confectionery", which is related to Russian confectionery factory and also produces and markets products of the "Pobeda" brand, has been registered in Latvia since 2014. During the verification, VDD according to its competence, evaluated the possible involvement of the company registered in Latvia, its owners and true beneficiaries in providing support to Russia’s army.
The analysis of the information carried out by VDD shows that Russian confectionery factory "Pobeda" has provided long-term, systemic support for Russia's military memorial policy, support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine and for Russia’s armed forces.
During the verification, VDD established that the individual food packages of Russia’s armed forces include the products of the Russian confectionery factory "Pobeda". "Pobeda" has been providing products to the Russian army for many years and has not stopped providing them even after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Therefore, "Pobeda" provides resources to the occupying army, supporting its crimes in Ukraine. Moreover, the Russian confectionery factory has a long-term cooperation with the Russian war veterans' organization "Combat Brotherhood", which supports Russia's aggressive foreign policy and regularly provides various resources to Russian soldiers.
In the course of the verification carried out by VDD, suspicions about the involvement of the company "Pobeda Confectionery" registered in Latvia in providing support to Russia’s armed forces were not confirmed. At the same time, the owners of the Russian confectionery factory are also part of the owner structure of the company "Pobeda Confectionery" registered in Latvia. Since the specific persons are not Latvian citizens, in order to prevent a potential threat to Latvia's national security, VDD urged the Minister of Interior to include these persons in the blacklist, prohibiting them from further entry into Latvia.
The staff of the company "Pobeda Confectionery" registered in Latvia has been warned that providing any kind of support to the aggressor state Russia in Latvia is subject to criminal liability.
Information prepared by: VDD