RIGA, October 19 - RAPSI. Latvian national Pavels Loskutovs, convicted in Russia for espionage, was not on a mission assigned by the Latvian law enforcement and other government agencies, Janis Silis, press secretary of the Latvian Foreign Ministry, told RIA Novosti on Friday.

On Thursday, the Russian Supreme Court upheld the verdict of the Moscow City Court, which found Loskutovs guilty of espionage. He was sentenced to 12 years in a penal colony under Article 276 (espionage) of the Russian Criminal Code.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry confirmed it was aware of Loskutovs' arrest and conviction. The ministry said it could give no information about Loskutovs' offence as his case is confidential.

The Latvian Foreign Ministry representative denied the allegations that Loskutovs had been sent on a mission by the Latvian security or any other government agency.