Police investigate cyber-attack on state forest systems; unauthorised person spoke with hackers about ransom
The State Police continues to investigate a cyber-attack on the infrastructure of 'Latvia's State Forests'. During the investigation, it was established that a person without authorisation acted on behalf of the company and contacted criminals about a possible payment to recover data.
Police investigate cyber-attack on state forest systems; unauthorised person spoke with hackers about ransom
Law enforcement officials continue their work in the criminal case opened following a cyber-attack by cybercriminals on the information systems of the state-owned enterprise "Latvia's State Forests" on 26 June 2026. As part of the investigation, new procedural actions have been taken.
Operational staff have established that a certain individual, who has no connection whatsoever to the attack itself, arbitrarily made decisions on behalf of the state capital company. This person, without being authorised to do so, engaged in direct communication with hackers to discuss the possibility of paying ransom money to recover the encrypted data.
Police emphasise that these actions took place without the knowledge of the company's management and without any legal basis. Investigators do not assess the person's public statements about the incident, but rather their unlawful conduct in representing the state enterprise without authorisation.
The person under suspicion has not been detained. They came to the police after being summoned, voluntarily provided an explanation and cooperates with investigators. A search was also conducted, resulting in the seizure of one electronic device.
The criminal case has been classified under several articles of the Criminal Law. The main charge is under Article 243, paragraph five, for intentional disruption of a data processing system of national importance. Additionally, Article 279, paragraph one has been applied for abuse of authority — for actions carried out in circumvention of the procedure established by law whose legality was disputed by a state institution, causing substantial harm.
Source: LVportals.lv
Source: Google News LV — Crime (lv)