TV3 programme Nekā personīga reports that Russian billionaire Petr Aven, who is under EU sanctions, had stayed in Latvia in December 2022 and had met with a well-known National Alliance party member Egils Helmanis. Both confirm that this meeting took place.
The programme also reports Aven received letters of support from ex-president Andris Bērziņš, as well as former ministers Aivis Ronis and Valdis Birkavs.
Latvia has also blacklisted Aven’s associate, Klauģu muiža LLC manager Aleksey Gaponov and internal security service manager Vladimir Smirnov.
Helmanis had plans to celebrate Ogre’s jubilee with an art exhibition featuring pieces of art from dual citizenship holder (Russian and Latvian) Petr Aven’s personal collection. Both his colleagues in this party and Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs were against this. The event was cancelled at the last moment.
The general opinion in Latvia is that exhibition of pieces of art owned by the sanctioned person in Latvia and internationally could potentially cause the wrong impression about the person close to the «criminal regime in Russia».
Petr Aven, according to Nekā personīga, is one of the oligarchs the closest to [Russian President] Vladimir Putin. He is an important shareholder in Russian Alfa Group business, which includes one of Russia’s biggest banks – Alfa Bank. Previously Aven was among 50 wealthiest businessmen in Russia who regularly met with the head of the Kremlin. It is reported that they met with him on the eve of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. His friendship with Putin started in the ‘90s, when then the Minister of Foreign Economic Contacts helped Putin, then the deputy mayor of St. Petersburg, in covering up a corruption scheme involving fictive delivery of food to the city worth USD 100 million, the programme reports.
Putin’s oldest daughter Marija was in charge of Alfa-Endo charity project, which was financed by Alfa Bank.
Last year the European Union imposed sanctions against Aven for financially supporting and benefited from Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and destabilisation of Ukraine. Latvia has frozen Aven’s owned assets in the country: bank assets and real estate. One piece of real estate is located in Riga, Valdemara Street, which is where it was planned to exhibit his collection of porcelain and art. Klauģu Manor in Lazdona, complete with 60 ha of land, multiple buildings and a helicopter landing pad, is also frozen.
His property owned elsewhere in Europe is also frozen.
Aven has not condemned Putin’s actions. He has, together with his business partner Mikhail Fridman, become involved in Kremlin’s efforts to lift western sanctions. He has also challenged his sanctions in the European Court of Law. The billionaire’s arguments include the following: the Council of Europe has failed to prove Aven is a major businessman, that he is influential or that he operates in economic sectors that serve as a significant source of income for the government of the Russian Federation.
On the 13th of January Aven, through his sworn attorney Andris Mālenders, sent a letter to Latvia’s Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In it, Aven expresses his dissatisfaction that Latvia has joined this litigation. He also stresses that sanctions imposed against him are unjustified, and that Latvia should review its position in the case. Opposite to what is listed in the lawsuit – that Petr Aven has not distanced himself from the decision made by Vladimir Putin’s administration to invade Ukraine – there is a great deal of evidence to the opposite. As one piece of evidence, Aven’s lawyer mentioned the testimony given by multiple well-known Russian and Ukrainian politicians, journalists, dissidents and human rights activists.
Among the people who voiced support of Aven in the form of letters last year where also three former Latvian officials – ex-president Andris Bērziņš, ex-minister Aivis Ronis and ex-minister Valdis Birkavs.
Petr Aven is not banned from entering Latvia. He has dual citizenship: Russian and Latvian. Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau investigated how he acquired his citizenship.
The case was ended. No bribery was uncovered, but KNAB did find the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs was lenient towards Aven.
Conversations recorded between the former management of the institution and politician Edgars Jaunups were more than ambiguous. Immediately after the start of the war discussions commenced about Aven’s citizenship. Last year the Saeima passed amendments to the rules for annulling citizenship of double citizens who assist aggressor states.
Amendments to the Citizenship Law state that the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs make decisions regarding the revoking of Latvian citizenship following requests from state security services. Neither the Constitution Protection Bureau nor the State Security Service told the programme if Aven is under investigation. The State Security Service only reminded that, unlike two of his employees, Petr Aven cannot be blacklisted, as he is a citizen of Latvia.
According to unofficial information, Russian citizen and manager of Klauģu muiža LLC Aleksey Gaponov is blacklisted. He coordinated management of Aven’s property in Latvia.
The other associated of Aven’s banned from entering Latvia is Klauģu muiža internal security service manager Vladimir Smirnov. He is responsible for security at Aven’s other businesses in Russia, as well as companies like Zalese, Sosny, ALFA-AERO.
Both of the aforementioned men support Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Among Aven’s frozen assets in Latvia is money on bank accounts and private property. This includes charity organisations, including Paaudze foundation – everything is under sanctions. In April 2022 the State Revenue Service took away its public benefit organisation’s status. However, the foundation has not been liquidated.
On the eve of the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the head of Ogre municipal council Egils Helmanis, together with Paaudze foundations, had planned to exhibit pre-war Latvian porcelain works owned by Aven at the Ogre History and Art Museum.
Helmanis explained this plan the following way: «Those are not Aven’s works of art. If we planned to put a 2m tall gilded porcelain statue of Aven, there would be room for discussions, but since the object in question were made by our local craftsmen, we have no reason to hide. Why aren’t our artists’ works allowed to be put on display to celebrate Ogre’s jubilee?»
Eight years ago the collection, which the politician called unique previously unseen was put on display in Madona. It was also previously exhibited in Daugavpils, Liepaka, Ventspils and Riga. Had the pieces of art been brought to the museum in Ogre, they would have been insured. Usually insurance costs are covered by the museum. However, in this case responsibility would be taken by Ogre municipal council, because
the museum refused to sign any contracts with the sanctioned foundation.
Breach of sanctions carries criminal liability. If this happened, the municipal administration would have to take the hit.
Helmanis, meanwhile, continues his explanations: «We knew Aven is under sanctions. We studied sanctions as well. These sanctions prevent acquisition of profit. Aven wasn’t paid. Nor did he pay us. This is why we believe there was no way we could have breached the sanctions.»
When asked by journalists, «But what about Aven not loudly and personally condemning the war in Ukraine», the politician said he heard Aven condemning the war in Ukraine. «What should we do with Raimonds Pauls, who has yet to loudly condemn the war in Ukraine? I think this with hunt is very dangerous,» insists Helmanis.
The news of the planned exhibition turned out an unpleasant surprise for Latvia’s government. This includes Helmanis’ colleagues in the party. Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgars Rinkēvičs had this to say: «This is an enormous discussion: are sports and arts related to politics or not? Of course they are. Is it correct? I find it difficult to understand such decisions.»
Minister of Culture Nauris Puntulis, who is a colleague of Helmanis’ over at the National Alliance political party, explains his opinion: «There are no discussions. Mr. Helmanis rushed in too quickly with the exhibition this month, when we expect a terrible anniversary of this war. No way. […] In any case, he did not ask for my opinion before making plans for the exhibition.»
Minister of Defence Ināra Mūrniece, also a colleague of Helmanis’ in the party, comments: «Our security concerns have to be taken very seriously! Especially in the context with the 24th of February and Russia’s aggressive and criminal policy and full-scale war in Ukraine.»
When asked by Nekā personīga how the exhibition organised by Petr Aven’s foundation at a museum owned by Ogre municipal council on the eve of the war’s anniversary, she said: «I think it is unacceptable! […] I will speak with Mr. Helmanis. It would be unacceptable!»
Employees of Ogre History and Art Museum distance themselves from the cancelled exhibition. The museum finds it unacceptable to mix politics and art.
Additionally, because of this exhibition, the previously planned exhibition of local works of art was cancelled.
An argument broke out on social media as well: mayor of Ogre accused museum’s workers of hypocrisy, as previously they had no interest in the origin of works of art. This is apparently not true, according Nekā personīga. As confirmation of his position, Helmanis posted on social media correspondence he had with the museum’s manager together with more than 100 photos depicting Aven’s porcelain collection, which the mayor had sent to the museum’s management around the end of December.
Nekā personīga studied the photos to make this story. These photos feature porcelain works of art owned by Aven in a place that is not dissimilar to the interior of Klauģu Manor. Photos also feature a winter landscape. Porcelain is in glass display cases. Reflection also shows the person taking the photos. This person looks like Helmanis. In two photos reflections show someone who looks like the owner o f the collection. «It is likely Petr Aven,» the programme reports.
Initially the politician denied having ties to Aven. He later contacted Nekā personīga and claimed he misunderstood the question. He said he had met with Petr Aven at the billionaire’s property in Latvia in December last year. Helmanis was interested to learn Aven’s position about the Russian-Ukrainian war and why the billionaire met with Putin on the first day of the war on the 24th of February 2022. Helmanis did not visit Klauģu Manor alone. Aven confirmed having met with Helmanis. He mentioned the same details as Helmanis did. He said he is said the plan to hold the exhibition caused such a negative reaction. He said there was no hidden intention behind it.
Also read: US sanctions applied to Latvian citizen for support of Russian militarism