Latvia’s Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau (KNAB) has commenced an investigation of public claims about Russian President Vladimir Putin allegedly paying money to the newly-elected Saeima deputy Ainārs Šlesers, as confirmed by KNAB.
On Thursday, 6 October, Constitutional Protection Bureau (SAB) director Egils Zviedris mentioned in an interview to Latvijas Radio programme Krustpunktā that aftet Šlesers left the political arena in Latvia he founded a joint company together with Russian Railway. This company was engaged in logistical and transport services.
If Šlesers received funding as an official working in this company, it’s a different issue. However, SAB is unable to confirm information reported by journalist Dmitrijs Muratovs, added Zviedris.
Now that KNAB has commenced an investigation and Šlesers himself has turned to law enforcement institutions, Zviedris suggests residents to trust investigators. If Muratovs has any proof of direct payments from the Kremlin to Šlesers, Zviedris would be grateful if it was provided to Latvian law enforcers.
In an interview to Youtube channel Solodnikov, Novaja Gazeta editor Dmitrijs Muratovs claimed that
Putin paid multiple western politicians, including Latvia’s Ainārs Šlesers, EUR 1.5 million to EUR 2 million every year.
«When Russia’s President Vladimir Putin laughs at western values, I understand why he does it. He knows the price of these values. Multiple western politicians work for him,» Muratovs claimed, adding that every of war in Ukraine costs Russia EUR 500 million, and this is the amount Europe pays Russia for energy resources.
According to Muratovs, Russian state company Rosneft hired influential western politician with Putin’s blessing.
Among the politicians allegedly on Putin’s payroll are Austria’s former Ministry of Foreign Affairs Karin Kneissl, whose wedding Putin attended, Finland’s former PM Esko Tapani Aho, Austria’s former Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, as well as Latvia’s former Minister of Transport Ainārs Šlesers.
Information regarding Šlesers’ possible ties to Russia had surfaced in February 2022, when Novaja Gazeta published a study of Russian public associations and their ties with foreign politicians. In it there was a list with 14 names, and among them was Latvia’s former Minister of Transport Ainārs Šlesers.
More on this topic: Latvia’s corruption watchdog to investigate claims of Putin’s possible payments to Ainārs Šlesers