The State Security Service or VDD () is one of three Latvian security and intelligence services. VDD is the civilian counterintelligence and internal security service, which gathers intelligence from a number of sources and conducts its analysis, informs senior state officials about the identified risks to the national security as well as acts to neutralize those risks.
VDD's competence is counterintelligence, protection of state secrets, protection of the constitutional order, economic security, counterterrorism as well as dignitary protection. Among the three Latvian security and intelligence services VDD is the only one authorized to conduct the pre-trial investigation (initiate criminal proceedings and refer the case for launching criminal prosecution as well as detain persons).
The oversight of VDD's activities is conducted by the Minister for the Interior, the Prosecutor General's Office performs the oversight of VDD's conduct of operational measures and the legitimacy of the pre-trial investigation process, while the parliamentary control over VDD is exercised by the National Security Commission of the Parliament.
In terms of its mission, functions and tasks VDD is the successor of the State Security Department of Latvia (established in 1919) - the first civilian counterintelligence and internal security service of Latvia.
History of VDD
State Security Department
Established on 11 August 1919, the State Security Department was the first Latvian civilian counterintelligence and internal security service. At the time being the armed units of the Soviet Russia, German Eiserne (Iron) Division and the West Russian Volunteer Army led by Pavel Bermondt - Avalov were all present in Latvia and the Latvian War of Independence was in progress.
The headquarters of the State Security Department were located at 12 Suvorova Str. (nowadays - K. Barona Str.) in Riga. On 3 September 1919 First Lieutenant Jānis Liģeris-Liggers (1889–1942) was appointed the Head of the State Security Department.
The main task of the State Security Department was to fight the crimes against the state and monitor the political security. The functions of the State Security Department and the Internal intelligence division of the Latvian Army were overlapping in many aspects. It was for this reason that only after three months the functioning of the State Security Department ceased on 1 November 1919.
The 5th (Political) Section of Riga Criminal Police
Following the dismantling of the State Security Department its functions were overtaken by the Internal intelligence division of the Latvian Army. Also most of State Security Department's officers continued their career in the Latvian Army.
Straight after the dismantling of the State Security Department the 5th (Political) Section of Riga Criminal Police was established. It conducted measures to eliminate the groups of saboteurs established by the enemy which were trying to hinder the further development of the recently established State of Latvia and the work of the interim government led by Kārlis Ulmanis. In parallel the officers of the Political Section continued working on the cases initiated by the State Security Department.
Political Security Department
Less than two months after the signature of the Latvian – Soviet Peace Treaty on 11 August 1920, which basically ended the War of Independence, the Political Security Department was established. There was no active warfare in Latvian territory and the nature of threats towards the national security changed. For this reason the functions of Political Section of the Criminal Police and the Internal intelligence division of the Latvian Army were merged into the Political Security Department.
On 22 October 1920 Captain Voldemārs Alps (1891–1964) was appointed the first Head of Political Security Department and served until his replacement in 1922 by Pēteris Martinsons (born in 1886, year of death unknown). However, also P.Martinsons held the post of the Head of Political Security Department for a short period. On 15 March 1923 Jānis Kaktiņš (born in 1892, year of death unknown) was appointed the Acting Head and exercised his functions for almost four months until on 3 July 1923 Ernests Āboltiņš (1884–1942) became the Head of Political Security Department.