BNN summary of the week: More benefits. New NEPLP. Corruption index

This week nearly all of Europe experienced a rapid surge of new Covid-19 cases. In some countries, however, the infection with Omicron is reported to be mild, meaning hospitals are not overloaded. This opens the way for discussions regarding the possible easing of restrictions.
More and more talk continues about the possible cancellation of the Covid-19 certificate system. In Latvia, however, such a topic is not on the table at the moment. The general consensus at the moment is that it is necessary to wait for a bit and carefully consider decisions.
The government in Latvia did decide to pay additional benefits to certain groups of residents as a response to the Covid-19 crisis and growing bills.
International anti-corruption organisation Transparency International published results of a study this week. Results show that the tolerance of corruption in Latvia gradually reduces but remains significantly behind the average in the EU. Though indexes in Lithuania and Estonia are not too great either, Estonia’s index has nonetheless increased significantly in the last decade.
This week Latvia’s Saeima also appointed new members of the National Electronic Mass Media Council.
BNN gives you a summery of the most relevant events of the past week in the following topics: Verdict; New NEPLP; Benefit; Digitalgate; Corruption index; Covid in Lithuania and Russia’s demands.
VERDICT
Appeal instance court acquits ex-KNAB official Juris Jurašs
Saeima deputy Juris Jurašs. Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETAOn 25 January Riga Regional Court ruled a full acquittal for Saima deputy Juris Jurašs, who is accused of leaking official secrets, as the court confirmed.
The court reviewed the appeal protest submitted by the prosecutor and then lifted the issued by Riga City Vidzeme Suburb Court on 22 June 2021. A new not guilty verdict was composed.
The new verdict is subject to appeal in ten days under cassation order.
Previously Riga Vidzeme Suburb Court declared Jurašs not guilty and added that the details of official charges were not confirmed in the trial investigation. The court did not find confirmation of Jurašs leaking sensitive information and thereby causing damage to the country’s internal or external security.
More here
NEW NEPLP
Latvian National Electronic Mass Media Council receives new members
Photo: Zane Bitere/LETAOn Thursday, 27 January, Latvian Saeima elected four new members for the National Electronic Mass Media Council (NEPLP) Ivars Āboliņš, Aurēlija Ieva Druviete, Ilva Milzarāja and Andis Plakans.
Āboliņš is the incumbent chairman of NEPLP, Druviete is vice-chairman of NEPLP, Milzarāja is the former director of Latvijas Radio 5 programme and Plakans is a board member of LLC NT Piedzīvojumi and former sound engineer of Latvijas Radio.
During debates Saeima deputy Viktors Valainis criticized the fact that Plakans is among the candidates, considering he ran in municipal elections as a member of the ruling coalition party. The politician said that this practice is generally acceptable, but it should not be the case for government parties, which entered politics with «slogans promoting openness and transparency».
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BENEFITS
Latvian state to pay four-month benefit for children and students
Photo: UnsplashLatvian state will pay EUR 50 a month for every child and student under the age of 24 years for a period of four months – January to April, as provided by the Law on Emergency Energy Price Reduction Measures passed by the government on 25 January.
Payment of this benefit will cost EUR 79 587 200.
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DIGITALGATE
Prosecutor protests not guilty verdict in digital television criminal case
Photo: Edijs Pālens/LETAOn 11 January 2022 the prosecutor of the Office of the Prosecutor General’s Criminal Affairs Department Corruption Prevention Coordination Office submitted a protest in regards to the not guilty verdict announced by the court of appeal instance in the digital television criminal case, as confirmed by the office of the prosecutor.
The cassation protest was submitted in the criminal case regarding the digital television adoption project of 2002-2003 and the contract signed between JSC Digitālais Latvijas radio (DLRTC) and Kempmayer Media Limited. On 22 January 2022 the prosecutor also submitted additions to the protest.
The protest was submitted because, after reading through the verdict of the court of appeal instance, it was uncovered that the court had incorrectly interpreted and used the Criminal Law’s General and Special part. On top of that, the court allowed major violations of the Criminal Procedure Law’s regulations for evaluation of evidence, which resulted in an unjustified and unlawful verdict.
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CORRUPTION INDEX
Corruption perception index improves in Latvia but remains behind EU and OECD levels
Photo: Evija Trifanova/LETAAccording to data from the latest Corruption Perception Index published by international anti-corruption organisation Transparency International, Latvia’s index has improved. However, it remains behind other member states of the European Union and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), as LETA was informed by Society for Openness – Delna.
In 2021 Latvia’s corruption perception index increased by two points when compared to 2020, reaching 59 points out of 100. This puts Latvia on 15th place among 27 EU member states, which is an upgrade of two spots when compared to 2020. The average index in the EU is 64 points, however.
Latvia is 26th among 37 OECD member states, which is an upgrade of two spots when compared to 2020. The average corruption perception index is 67 points.
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COVID IN LITHUANIA
Vilnius Mayor calls for lifting all restrictions, as «the virus is all around»
Photo: PixabayLithuania has seen it’s number of new daily Covid-19 infections exceed 10 000, but Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius has called for the government to lift all epidemiological restrictions reasoning that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus is less dangerous to vaccinated people, Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reports.
«It’s time to start living with a virus that is, luckily, not that dangerous anymore», the liberal Freedom Party’s Mayor of Vilnius urged in a long Facebook post on Thursday, January 27.
Although Lithuania is reporting record-hitting numbers of new daily infections, restrictions on businesses and public life do not make sense any more, according to Šimašius.
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RUSSIA’S DEMANDS
NATO and US reject Russia’s military guarantee demands
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Photo: AFP/SCANPIXThe NATO military alliance and the US have rejected the military guarantee demands Russia has made as to the security of Ukraine, Georgia and NATO member states in Eastern Europe.
According to a press release by NATO, its Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed on Wednesday, January 26, that NATO has conveyed its written proposals to Russia, in parallel with the United States.
Stoltenberg noted in a press conference that NATO called on Russia to immediately de-escalate the situation and focus on dialogue and diplomacy as the country’s military build-up in and around Ukraine continues, with more than 100,000 troops in position, and more on the way, including significant deployments in Belarus.
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