Two people arrested in Latvia accused of spying for Russia

Latvian security authorities have arrested two people on suspicion of spying for Russia.

Both are being investigated over collecting and passing on confidential information to Russian special services, the EU and NATO member announced in Riga on Thursday.

They are accused of passing on information about other people suspected of espionage in Latvia.

One of the detainees is a man who has previously been accused of spying for Russia.

Latvia was part of the Soviet Union until independence in 1991. The Baltic nation of 1.8 million residents, which borders Russia, has since moved into the West's sphere of influence and has been alarmed by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.