The court found that Sergejs Sidorovs had been recruited through the Telegram messaging app, Latvian news agency LETA reported.

He had agreed to gather information on developments in the Latvian defense system, Latvia's international cooperation, NATO defense plans, the activities of NATO member states on Latvian territory, as well as information on support activities for Ukraine in Latvia, the court heard.

Prosecutors said that Sidorovs had agreed to perform the tasks for ideological reasons, knowing the information he gave would be forwarded to Russian intelligence and security services.

During his communications with a contact via the ‘Baltic Anti-Fascists' Telegram channel, he offered to place explosives at an oil terminal he said was “full of Ukrainians” and to burn trucks and a drone site, according to prosecutors.

He was also charged with inciting national and ethnic hatred through posts online.

Sidorovs was detained by Latvia’s State Security Service (VDD) in August last year. At his first hearing, he said he did not consider himself a spy as he had not passed on any information about sensitive sites such as military bases.