Hello, my name is Ilja Borisovs, aka Shvembldr. I am a Latvian citizen, born in Riga. I built my career as a generative artist. I created algorithmic artworks and sold them as NFTs, and in 2021, I was one of the most commercially successful artists in this field. I declared my income and paid more than €3.1 million in taxes and social contributions in Latvia. The criminal investigation opened against me by the Latvian police destroyed my career, my livelihood, and the life I had built.
This website is a public case file. It contains information about my activity as an artist, documented income, tax payments, and the procedural history and current status of the criminal case. Its purpose is to make the facts verifiable for journalists, lawyers, public officials, and anyone following the case.
On 10 February 2022, Latvian police seized all my assets in criminal proceedings No. 11815000222 under Section 195(3) of the Latvian Criminal Law — large-scale money laundering or money laundering committed by an organised group, punishable by 3 to 12 years in prison. The case alleged that the proceeds of my NFT sales were criminally obtained funds being laundered.
On 17 February 2025, the Economic Court terminated the separate proceedings concerning criminally obtained property.
On 15 October 2025, the Riga Regional Court of Appeal upheld that decision. The appeal decision is not subject to further appeal.
On 16 October 2025, the asset seizure was formally lifted. The underlying criminal case remains open. No compensation has been paid. No apology has been issued.
The largest single loss — €892,631.58 in late-payment interest assessed by VID — is the one no authority will undo. The tax office can only write it off on a decision from the Prosecutor General; the Prosecutor General says the law covers only harm caused by a bank or the financial-intelligence service, never a police seizure. The state froze the money, charged the interest, and now says it has no mechanism to fix it. Read how this works →
The compensation application states approximately EUR 3.8 million.
Counting since the criminal proceedings opened on 3 February 2022.
Current status
The criminal case remains open. No charges have been brought against me.
VID late-payment interest (892 631.58 €) and enforcement costs (about 122 000 €) caused by the seizure have not been refunded.
The direct route to compensation remains closed while the criminal case is open. I am trying to obtain compensation despite that: on 13 August 2026, I submitted a signed compensation claim to the Prosecutor General’s Office, which confirmed receipt of both parts.
No state institution has acknowledged that any of this was wrong.
The fight now continues beyond Latvia — I am preparing a possible application to the European Court of Human Rights.
Everything is public. Check it yourself.
All transactions are recorded on-chain forever and can never be changed. My identity, wallets, and sales are open.
What was being laundered.
