The scale and complexity of the Rail Baltica railway project are prolonging the investigation carried out by the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) in the related criminal proceedings.
KNAB emphasised that Rail Baltica is one of the largest projects of its kind in Latvia, spanning a long timeframe and involving a large number of individuals and legal entities.
The project’s scope and complexity “objectively extend KNAB’s pre-trial investigation,” which requires analysing a significant volume of documentation, obtaining additional information, conducting interviews, and performing other investigative actions, the bureau noted.
These steps are necessary for KNAB to make a lawful decision on the future course of the criminal proceedings and to determine whether responsible state officials may have caused significant losses to the state budget.
KNAB acknowledged public interest in the case but stated that, at present,
there is no new publicly available information regarding the pre-trial investigation.
The bureau also did not comment on whether any individual in the case has been granted the right to defence.
Earlier this year, former Prosecutor General Juris Stukāns revealed on Latvian Television that politicians are also being scrutinised in connection with the case.
As previously reported by LETA, in December 2024, following a review, the Prosecutor General’s Office initiated criminal proceedings over possible illegal actions by officials responsible for implementing Rail Baltica.
The case concerns suspicions that state officials responsible for the project may have caused substantial losses to the state budget in relation to the construction of Rail Baltica infrastructure. The criminal proceedings have been initiated for offences outlined in the Criminal Law chapter on crimes committed in state institutions.
According to the Prosecutor General’s decision on institutional jurisdiction, the case has been transferred to KNAB.
The Rail Baltica project aims to create a European standard-gauge railway line from Tallinn to the Lithuanian-Polish border, enabling further connections from the Baltic states to other European countries. In total, 870 kilometres of new European standard-gauge track (1,435 mm) are planned in the Baltics, with a maximum train speed of 240 km/h.
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