The Union of Greens and Farmers (ZZS) has not discussed the possible cessation of cooperation with “For Latvia and Ventspils” political party, whose leader Aivars Lembergs and his daughter Līga Lemberga were presented with sanctions by Britain this month, said ZZS board chairman and Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze in an interview to LTV programme Rīta panorāma.
When asked if ZZS has any plans to cease cooperation with Lembergs’ political party, Krauze said this topic was not discussed within the party.
“This is not important. There are many [other] important issues, and, considering he does not participate in discussions of the coalition or meetings of our party’s board, this is not important to us,” said Krauze.
He also said he does not recall the last time he spoke to Lembergs. “I cannot remember the last time I spoke with him. As per our agreement, he does not participate in any of our meetings,” said Krauze.
As previously reported, at the end of November, Britain imposed sanctions against eight persons – citizens of different countries accused of international corruption. Aivars Lembergs and his daughter Līga are among those people.
According to the statement from the British government, Lembergs is or was previously involved in acts of corruption. Specifically, Lembergs, during his term as Mayor of Ventspils, had been responsible for serious corruption or had been involved in serious corruption in the form of bribery and embezzlement, the statement mentioned.
Lembergs’ daughter Līga has promoted or supported serious corruption, as well as benefited financially or benefited in some other form from serious corruption. In particular, Lemberg has been involved in the bribery and embezzlement committed by her father, Aivars Lembergs, the statement added.
The sanctions imposed on them include freezing of assets and travel restrictions.
Ex-Mayor of Ventpsils Aivars Lembergs (For Latvia and Ventspils) has appealed the verdict that sentenced him to four years in prison and confiscation of property.
A cassation protest from the prosecutor and a total of 15 cassation complaints, including from one accused person, five defence attorneys, one victim and five representatives of the owners of the damaged property, have been received in relation to the verdict from Riga Regional Court last year.
Riga Regional Court as the appeal instance court declared Lembergs guilty of several episodes of crimes of corruption. Lembergs’ prison sentence was shortened by one year.
The court decided to sentence him to four years in prison with confiscation of owned property. In prison, the appellate court, like the first instance, decided to include Lembergs’ detention and time spent under house arrest to his overall sentence.
The time spent under arrest from the 14th of March, 2007 to the 10th of July, 2007, and from the 22nd of February, 2021 to the 25th of February, 2022, as well as the time spent under house arrest from the 10th of July, 2007 to the 22nd of February, 2008, were included in the sentence. This means that Lembergs spent a total of about 700 days in prison and under house arrest.
It is also worth mentioning that Lembergs also received acquittal in multiple criminal charges against him.
Lembergs’ son Anrijs Lembergs, too, received a reduced sentence – one year and 11 months in prison. Like his father, Anrijs Lembergs received confiscation of property.
Aivars Lembergs’ one-time business partner Ansis Sormulis was sentenced to one year and nine months in prison. Like Anrijs and Aivars Lembergs, Sormulis received confiscation of property on top of the prison sentence.
Riga Regional Court started reviewing the case in 2009.