In July 2022 Ventspils City Council deputies Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis and Dace Korna turned to the Ministry of Justice and Ministry (TM) of Environment Protection and Regional Development Ministry (VARAM) with a request to investigate the legality of payment of Ventspils City Council deputy’s wage to Aivars Lembergs for the time he spent under arrest, as reported by Ventspilnieks.lv.
According to publicly reported information, for his work in Ventspils City Council in 2021 Aivars Lembergs was paid EUR 20 700 despite the fact that he spent 10 months of that year under arrest.
The wage received for the time spent under arrest is EUR 3 245 lower when compared to 2020, when Lembergs was not only allowed to perform his duties as a member of the city council, but also basically served as chairman of Ventspils City Council.
Both ministries agree – there may have been a violation committed here.
According to the response from TM made to Kristovskis and Korna, the wage paid to Aivars Lembergs for the time he spent in prison was paid unjustifiably, because the goal of the person under arrest cannot be gaining income. On top of that, the ability of the person under arrest to continue his or her activities and preserving his or her job is severely limited when compared to free people.
Because Ventspils City Council Aivars Lembergs had no way to perform his duties, he had no right to receive the maximum possible wage amount.
VARAM adds there are signs of a possible violation of rules for use of finances of public persons – Ventspils City Council in this case.
VARAM stresses that evaluation of responsibility held by officials of Ventspils City Council is the duty of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) and Latvian State Police.
Ģirts Valdis Kristovskis told Ventspilnieks.lv that he and Dace Korna have turned to KNAB over this issue. Now they expect the bureau to make decisions in relation to Ventspils City Council officials’ responsibility in paying Aivars Lembergs a maximum wage for the time he spent under arrest.
According to the two aforementioned deputies, this wasting of municipal finances at the expense of its residents is unacceptable.