The creation of a “militarized sculpture composition” near the Ādaži military base reveals significant issues in planning, oversight, and communication within the defence sector, according to findings shared by the State Audit Office (SAO) with BNN.
The SAO assessed the planning and implementation of the sculpture project, as well as the general process for managing construction projects within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), and the internal control mechanisms in place. Other defence construction projects were not evaluated.
Auditors concluded that the success of this specific project required deeper involvement and practical participation from key stakeholders, along with a more coordinated approach from the National Armed Forces (NBS), the State Centre for Defence Military Objects and Procurement (VAMOIC), and the MoD.
“The project began in 2020 with a rushed proposal by the NBS to install military-themed sculpture, featuring decommissioned equipment, a base, lighting, and a surrounding platform. Although the process followed legal procedures, the SAO raised a key question: was this project truly urgent and was it necessary to create an entire complex with a purpose-built platform, which became the most resource-intensive part of the project and would not have been required otherwise,” the auditors conclude.
Gatis Litvins, a member of the State Audit Office, noted that nearly five years passed from the initial proposal to the project’s completion.
The main issues identified were rushed planning, poor coordination, a lack of supervision, and a failure to define or implement an exit strategy.
After the first construction tender was cancelled at the end of 2022 due to a 66% cost increase, the project was still not suspended. A new tender was organized instead, Litvins said.
He points out that all these factors combined caused delays and cost increases followed: the initial estimate of 93 650 euros grew to 215 404 euros. The NBS had previously stated the project would cost around 183 000 euros.
“Unfortunately, there was no public or internal discussion within the defence sector at the beginning or during implementation about whether the composition should be created,” Litvins remarked. Nor was there any reassessment of the project in light of new geopolitical realities—such as potentially postponing or cancelling it.
The MoD did not provide adequate oversight, Litvins said. Although at least 18 progress reports were prepared, they were deemed formal, lacking deep analysis or specific directives to the NBS or VAMOIC.
The SAO also noted that the project was classified as a construction of a yard (under parking lots and roads) rather than a sculpture, due to the absence of a proper classification system for such objects in the defence sector. This may have led decision-makers and project approvers to overlook the necessity of the platform, which might have been questioned had the sculpture aspect been clearly emphasized in reports and procurement documentation.
The presence of another construction project—an adjacent parking lot—may have also distracted from the issue, the SAO suggested.
According to auditors, the MoD should have been more actively involved and cooperative with the NBS, since the project was unusual and impacted not only the military environment but also the broader public. Instead, decisions on concept, scope, and technical execution were left to the NAF, while the ministry formally approved them without deeper scrutiny, the study concluded.
In general, the SAO concluded that while the defence sector has a centralized system for planning and executing construction and procurement projects, it must apply existing control and accountability mechanisms more effectively. To avoid similar cases, increased bureaucracy is not needed—rather, there should be meaningful oversight, evaluation, and participation in decision-making.
The findings are part of a financial audit titled “On the Accuracy of the Ministry of Defence’s 2024 Financial Report.” The audit includes a “situation review”—a brief factual summary on matters of public interest, without conclusions or recommendations. In contrast, the full audit report contains findings, conclusions, and suggestions.
BNN previously reported that in October last year, a “militarized sculpture composition” was completed near the NBS military base in Kadaga. The installation features a decommissioned CVR(T) tracked armoured vehicle placed on a concrete pedestal.
Defence Minister Andris Sprūds (Progressives) initiated an internal investigation into the project’s construction on the 11th of October, acknowledging that it was an inefficient use of funds.
In parallel, Sprūds instructed the development and implementation of improvements in procurement and oversight processes related to construction projects in the defence sector, along with an audit of current projects.