Constitution Protection Bureau
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Constitution Protection Bureau
| native_name = Satversmes aizsardzības birojs
| logo = SAB.png
| agency_type = Intelligence bureau
| formed = 1995
| jurisdiction = Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia
| headquarters = Miera iela 85A, Riga
| chief1_name = Egils Zviedris
| chief1_position = Director
| website = {{URL|www.sab.gov.lv}}
}}
The Constitution Protection Bureau ({{Langx|lv|Satversmes aizsardzības birojs}}, SAB) is a Latvian state security institution. It conducts intelligence and counterintelligence activities, ensures the protection of state secrets, as well as classified information of the European Union and NATO.{{Cite web |title=Article 1, Paragraph 1 of the Constitution Protection Bureau Law |url=https://likumi.lv/ta/id/57257-satversmes-aizsardzibas-biroja-likums#p-10911 |access-date=}} The Bureau operates under the supervision of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia.
The Bureau ensures the operation of mobile phone conversation control equipment. Latvian state security and law enforcement agencies, authorized by law, conduct mobile phone conversation control using this equipment. Captured data is automatically transmitted to the respective authority, which initiates the interception of telephone conversations.{{Cite web |title=SAB uzdevumi |url=https://www.sab.gov.lv/sab-uzdevumi/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Satversmes aizsardzības birojs}}
History
The Constitution Protection Bureau was established in 1995 based on the Law on the Constitution Protection Bureau adopted by the Saeima.{{Cite web |title=Latvijas Republikas Ministru Kabinets: Satversmes aizsardzības birojs |url=https://tap.mk.gov.lv/mp/vaditas-padotibas-iestades/mp-sab/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=tap.mk.gov.lv}} It is named after the constitution of Latvia - the Satversme.
Since November 6, 1995, the Bureau has overseen the Centre for the Documentation of the Consequences of Totalitarianism (CDCT, {{Langx|lv|Totalitārisma seku dokumentēšanas centrs|label=}}, TSDC), which was established by the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Latvia on April 16, 1992, and initially operated as a structural unit of the Ministry of Justice.{{Cite web |title=The Centre for the Documentation of the Consequences of Totalitarianism |url=https://www.sab.gov.lv/en/totalitarianism/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Satversmes aizsardzības birojs}}
In 2003, the Latvian National Security Authority (NSA, {{Langx|lv|Nacionālā drošības iestāde|label=none}} or NDI) was established as one of the substructures of the Bureau.{{Cite web |title=National Security Authority (NSA) |url=https://www.sab.gov.lv/en/national-security-authority/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Satversmes aizsardzības birojs}} Its establishment was a mandatory requirement for Latvia's accession to NATO and the European Union (EU). The last inspection by the General Secretariat Security Bureau of the EU in 2012 and the NATO Security Bureau in 2015 acknowledged that the Bureau and the NSA complied with all specified security requirements and would continue to be entitled to receive classified information.
On October 26, 2004, the Cabinet of Ministers approved Regulation No. 887 "List of State Secrets Objects," indicating military, political, economic, scientific, technical, or other information, the loss or unlawful disclosure of which may harm the national security, economic, or political interests of the state. In the field of state secret protection, the Bureau carries out checks on individuals to issue or extend special permits for access to state secret objects (special permits), as well as checks and accredits premises used for work with classified information.{{Cite web |title=Valsts noslēpuma objektu saraksts |url=https://likumi.lv/doc.php?id=95649 |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=LIKUMI.LV |language=lv}}
Directors
Legislation
- National Security Law
- Law on State Security Institutions
- Law on the Constitution Protection Bureau
- Law on Official Secrets
- Investigatory Operations Law{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.sab.gov.lv/en/about-us/ |access-date=2024-03-06 |website=Satversmes aizsardzības birojs}}
In literature
- Niedre, Ojārs; Daugmalis, Viktors (1999). [https://books.google.com?id=plkRNAAACAAJ Slepenais karš pret latviju: komunistiskās partija darbība 1920.-1940. gadā : arhīvi apsūdz] (in Latvian). Totalitārisma seku dokumentēšanas centrs. {{ISBN|978-9984-9327-1-2}}.
- [https://books.google.com?id=hoW0AAAAIAAJ Okupācijas varu politika Latvijā 1939-1991: dokumentu krājums] (in Latvian). Nordik. 1999. {{ISBN|978-9984-510-59-0}}.
- [https://books.google.com?id=aycFAQAAIAAJ Latvijas izlūkdienesti 1919-1940: 664 likten̦i] (in Latvian). Latvijas Universitātes žurnāla "Latvijas Vēsture" fonds. 2001. {{ISBN|978-9984-643-29-8}}.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.sab.gov.lv/}}