RIGA, Dec 10 (LETA) - The State Security Service on December 5 asked the Prosecution Office to initiate criminal prosecution against four Latvian citizens for alleged vote buying during this year's municipal elections in Jekabpils municipality.

The criminal case was opened on the June 7 election day on suspicion of unlawfully influencing voters' choices. The State Security Service took over the investigation shortly afterward.

The investigation established that four persons were involved in vote-buying in Jekabpils municipality, including a candidate running on a political party's ticket. The candidate, acting as part of an organized group, bribed residents of Jekabpils municipality to vote for him and the political party he represents.

Meanwhile, the other individuals involved in vote buying sought out residents of Jekabpils municipality who would be willing to cast their ballots for the candidate in exchange for payment, and organized their transportation to the polling stations.

The candidate was not elected to the Jekabpils municipal council.

The four vote buying suspects are facing criminal charges over deliberate hindrance of freely exercising the right to vote, the State Security Service said.

Citing unconfirmed information, Latvian Television reported that one of the vote-buying suspects in Igors Nezenkins, who ran in the Jekabpils elections on the Latvia First (LPV) ticket and failed to get elected.