Special committee to investigate Latvian ex-PM’s private flights scandal

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa has issued an order for an investigation of ex-PM and ex-Minister of Foreign Affairs Krišjānis Kariņš’s private flights situation. A special committee will be composed for this very purpose.
Information published in the Latvian Herald states that the committee will consist of representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Welfare and Prime Minister’s Office. The committee will be led by state secretary to the Ministry of Justice Mihails Papsujevičs.
The committee was composed in response to the submission from the Prosecutor General’s Office “On the Lawfulness of the Use of Private Flight Services”. It will be the committee’s task to investigate and determine the circumstances of violations of laws and other regulatory enactments indicated in the submission and to evaluate the actions of administrative officials.
The investigation will need to be completed by the 30th of April with a report to the prime minister.
As previously reported, the private flights used by then the Latvian PM Krišjānis Kariņš and delegations on various foreign missions. Between 2021 and 2023, the Latvian state budget paid EUR 613 830 on private flights of political delegations. Together with funding from the EU, the total costs of those flights reached EUR 1.36 million.
The State Audit performed its own investigation of these flights, but results were challenged by the State Chancellery.
LETA previously reported that in March 2024 the Prosecutor General’s Office commenced and submitted to the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau the criminal process regarding the possible wastefulness of state resources on private flights on foreign missions of the now ex-Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš and his delegations.
The inspection found that larger amounts were spent on special tramp flights organized from 2021 to 2023 than provided for in the contracts concluded with travel agencies for the organization of private flights.
Also read: Krišjānis Kariņš’s decision to step down as minister is understandable, says Latvian president
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