BNN SUMMARY OF THE WEEK: Frequencies for security. Sporty bribe. Party barter

This week was accompanied by serious scandals the influence of which will remain lingering over the top heads of state in Latvia and in the minds of residents for some time. The general feeling is that some of them were intentionally kept secret until now.
One such scandal became a public topic after a major US investment company presented Latvia’s government with an ultimatum – give Bite communication frequencies or we’ll see each other in court! One hopes indifference is a passing state and the prime minister’s people are hard at work to resolve this problem as delicately as possible. LMT is a pearl of Latvia’s economy, but he country now has more priority matters to deal with now.
Let’s say like it is: the last thing Latvia needs in this worrisome time is for republicans in the politically split Washington to stand up and complain to the US Administration, saying that these so-called allies discriminate our investor while you spend American taxpayers’ money on this country’s security!
The general impression with the recent «passenger carriers scandal» that both the Competition Council and the minister of transport want to see some sort of example trial that would help influence this entire state-funded business sector. Nevertheless, despite the fines applied to the three companies involved in the cartel, they and their lawyers are prepared to fight to defend their reputation. This whole mess could result in a years-long lawsuit.
Rezekne’s mayor, meanwhile, has made his position clear – while not entirely pro-kremlin, then at least ‘defeated’ position. Now even roslikovists, who received a thrashing from the State Security Service, seem pro-European in comparison. Nevertheless, Aleksandrs Bartaševičs knows his voters and similarly-minded people in Harmony perfectly. This is why the hopes of Nils Ušakovs and Jānis Urbanovičs of maintaining their party as representative of the interests of moderate Latvian Russian-speakers are at risk now.
The tragedy in Kyiv suburb reminded Latvia how important each generator, transformer and roll of wires that has reached Ukraine is important. In the context of the most recent tragedy, BBC was particularly gentle, mentioning the kindergartener that was killed in the helicopter crash before mentioning that the accident also claimed the lives of Ukraine’s minister of the interior and his team.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Angry bee; Tragic finish; Cartel wars; No political deal; Bite the hand; Salvation in cellars?; Death in the dark; Superpower dwindling.
ANGRY BEE
Investor accuses SPRK of undermining US-Latvian investment agreement
Providence Equity Partners founder and manager Jonathan Milton Nelson. Photo: Thomas Hawk/FlickrUS investor company Providence Equity Partners, as reported by its representative Una Ahuna-Ozola, has sent an official letter to Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš, raising alarm over the actions of the Public Utilities Commission (SPRK) «that indicates possible violation of the investment promotion and mutual protection agreement between the government of the US and the government of Latvia».
Providence Equity Partners LLC (PEP) is a specialist private capital investment association that focuses on media, communications, education, technology investments across North America and Europe.
In Latvia they own Bite Latvija mobile services operator.
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TRAGIC FINISH
Athlete Višķers accused of attempted bribery of deputy of Ādaži municipal council
Latvian athlete Jānis Višķers. Photo: Zane Bitere/LETAThe prosecution office reports having submitted to Riga City Court the criminal case regarding the EUR 30 000 bribe offer to a deputy of Ādaži municipal council in exchange for a favourable vote in elections of a new chairman of the council.
According to LETA, athlete Jānis Višķers is the accused in this criminal case.
According to the prosecution, on the 5th of October 2022 the accused offered EUR 30 000 as a bribe to a deputy of Ādaži municipal council in an attempt to ensure the deputy uses their position and act against their better judgement by voting in favour of a specific candidate in the election of the new chairman.
Additionally, the deputy was promised a new post in the municipal council.
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CARTEL WARS
Competition Council’s uncovered passenger carriers’ actions must be punished severely, minister says
Latvian Minister of Finance Arvils Ašeradens and Minister of Transport Jānis Vitenbergs. Photo: Paula Čurkste/LETAThe cartel agreement in regional passenger transport services uncovered by the Competition Council (KP) is unacceptable and the actions of involved passenger carriers must be punished to the full extent of the law, said Minister of Transport Jānis Vitenbergs.
He stressed that the point of the tender for regional passenger transport services is providing all Latvian residents European-level services that are of high quality, convenient and accessible.
«The situation uncovered by KP is unacceptable. The actions committed by the three carriers is not only a crime and must be punished at the full extent of the law, but also represents an obstacle to letting all residents enjoy comfortable transport services using new buses,» said Vitenbergs.
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NO POLITICAL DEAL
The scandal with land in Biķernieki may bring about even more surprises in the future
Biķernieki track (summer 2017). Photo: Andrejs Saļikovs/LETAThe decision made by the government [in Latvia] to not purchase the land needed for Biķernieki track for EUR 8 million was not unexpected. It would have been stranger if this deal was declared good despite the public resonance surrounding it.
Something else is surprising, however. This lesson was not learned, and in the government it seems no one wants to set a clear and unambiguous order for the purchase of this land at its cadastral value.
It is also possible that this could be the fault of yet another political deal of sorts.
Latvia does have the Law on the Alienation of Immovable Property Necessary for Public Needs, which states that «immovable property shall be alienated for State protection, environmental protection, health protection or social security needs, construction of cultural, educational and sports facilities, engineering structures and engineering communications or development of transport infrastructure necessary for the public, as well as for ensuring other public needs, provided that this aim cannot be achieved by other means».
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BITE THE HAND
Rezekne mayor accuses Harmony of lying, betrayal and want for power
Rēzeknes council chairman Aleksandrs Bartaševičs. Photo: Ivars Soikāns/LETAIn his video address, Chairman of Rezekne City Council Aleksandrs Bartaševičs, responding to the statement released by Harmony political party’s Riga office this week, accused his own party members of lies, betrayal and want for power.
The politician claims that the statement includes a distorted interpretation of his position in regards to Ukraine. He did not clarify his position on the war in Ukraine and did not say what exactly was distorted in the letter of his fellow party members. Rezekne council chairman believes the most important part of the statement is the conclusion that it is not possible to accept his candidacy for the post of chairman of Harmony’s board.
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SALVATION IN CELLARS?
Estonia plans to significantly increase the number of safe shelters
Photo: UnsplashInterior Minister of Estonia, Lauri Läänemets, will encourage the government to build new shelters where up to 730 thousand people can stay in case of danger, Estonian media ERR News reports.
Currently, the Estonian Rescue Service has identified 94 publicly accessible shelters that can accommodate up to 50 thousand people. The Interior Ministry urges that in the next ten years, so many shelters should be created to be able to offer a safe place to a much larger number of people if necessary.
Läänemets informed that one of the ways to achieve this would be to amend the guidelines of the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications on support for the renovation of buildings and include in it the requirement to transform basements into shelters during the renovation. He said that if the government approves this project, it could cost up to 15 million euros per year.
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DEATH IN THE DARK
Interior Minister of Ukraine dies in a helicopter crash
Photo: EPA/SCANPIX/LETAThree high-ranking officials of the Interior Ministry of Ukraine died in a helicopter crash in the eastern suburbs of Kyiv, BBC writes.
The Interior Minister of Ukraine Denys Monastyrsky, his deputy and state secretary has died. The helicopter crashed in the suburb of Kyiv, Brovari, and the total number of dead has reached 18, including three children.
The deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Kyrylo Tymoshenko informed that Monastyrsky was on his way to one of the hotspots of hostilities at the time of the accident. At the moment, there is no indication that the accident was caused intentionally, although eyewitnesses have said that the war waged by Russia is to blame.
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SUPERPOWER DWINDLING
China’s population is shrinking – for the first time since 20th century
Photo: Christian Lue/UnsplashLast year, for the first time since the 1960s, China’s population shrank, which is a historical turning point that will have an impact on both the country’s economy and the entire world, writes Reuters.
The last time the population decreased in China was in 1961, which was the last year of China’s Great Famine. UN experts believe that China’s population will decline by 109 million by 2050, leading Chinese demographers to make dire predictions that China will grow old before it grows rich. The economy will slow down, tax revenues will decrease and government debt will increase.
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