The legal proceedings in the case of Aivars Lembergs have been “more than unreasonably long,” Prosecutor General Armīns Meisters said on the TV24 programme “Dienas personība ar Veltu Puriņu.” He noted that the duration is linked to procedural requirements and legal norms. The case is currently before the cassation instance, and a ruling could be expected within this year.
Cassation proceedings in the criminal case involving Aivars Lembergs, Anrijs Lembergs, and Ansis Sormulis were initiated by the Criminal Cases Department of the Senate on the 17th of December, 2017.
The case file consists of 349 volumes. The first-instance court judgment spans 1,924 pages, while the appellate court ruling comprises 579 pages. In addition, a prosecutor’s protest and 15 cassation complaints have been submitted, totalling 1,021 pages. After analysing the case materials, the Senate identified issues suitable for cassation review, forming the basis for initiating cassation proceedings.
The former mayor of Ventspils is charged by the prosecution with large-scale bribery, laundering of criminally obtained financial assets and other property, official forgery, participation in financial transactions prohibited due to his official position, abuse of office, and other offences.
The court of first instance sentenced Aivars Lembergs to five years in prison and ordered detention
as a security measure. He was taken into custody in the courtroom and remained in detention from the 22nd of February 2021 until the 25th of February 2022, when bail of 100,000 euros was paid. The first-instance court found him guilty on 19 counts and acquitted him on 21 counts.
Meanwhile, the Riga Regional Court, acting as the appellate court, found Lembergs guilty in several corruption-related episodes and sentenced him to four years in prison—one year less than the initial sentence.
The appellate court also ruled that the time Lembergs spent in detention and under house arrest should be counted toward his sentence. In total, he has spent approximately 700 days—around two years—in custody and house arrest. If the ruling enters into force, he would be required to serve roughly half of the imposed sentence, with the possibility of applying for conditional early release.
Lembergs’ son, Anrijs Lembergs, had his sentence reduced to one year and 11 months in prison, along with confiscation of property. A reduced sentence was also imposed on Lembergs’ business associate, Ansis Sormulis—one year and nine months of imprisonment, as well as confiscation of property.
The cassation court does not reassess the case on its merits and is not responsible for establishing factual circumstances or re-evaluating evidence. Instead, it reviews whether the appealed judgment complies with substantive and procedural law, drawing conclusions based on the case materials. Decisions of the cassation instance are final and not subject to appeal.
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