Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa may take legal action for defamation in connection with statements made by former head of the State Chancellery of Latvia, Jānis Citskovskis, regarding alleged unjustified use of a VIP lounge at Amsterdam Airport.
Siliņa stated on Twitter that, given the ongoing legal proceedings, including a criminal case in which Citskovskis is accused, his statements should be viewed as part of a defence strategy. She stressed that the claims made publicly do not correspond to reality and added that she will consider the possibility of taking legal action for defamation.
In an interview on the TV3 programme “900 Seconds,” the Prime Minister said she believes that Citskovskis is using the pre-election period to put pressure on politicians and defend himself in the criminal case. At the same time, she did not rule out the possibility that the former State Chancellery director could use his current visibility to run in elections himself or to support another political force.
When asked whether she uses VIP airport lounges while performing her duties as Prime Minister, Siliņa responded that such privileges are granted to high-ranking officials in accordance with regulations.
She added that this is common practice worldwide and, in her view, normal.
Asked about the specific costs, the Prime Minister said she does not remember all the invoices, but noted that Citskovskis himself had been responsible for establishing and implementing the relevant procedures for official travel. In any case, she stated that all information has been submitted to the prosecutor’s office and provided to the media.
As previously reported, Citskovskis accuses Siliņa of unjustified use of a VIP lounge at Amsterdam Airport. In an interview with Latvian Television, he claimed that he and his colleagues at the State Chancellery had often urged officials to avoid unnecessary expenses but were frequently ignored. One such case, he said, involved Siliņa, after whose visit to the Amsterdam Airport VIP lounge together with her adviser the state allegedly received a bill of around 4,000 euros.
Citskovskis stated that he refused to approve payment of this invoice, after which he was suspended from his position, and later another official approved the payment.
He also added that former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš had similarly requested that VIP lounge services be paid for his daughter, which, according to Citskovskis, was not lawful.
As reported, Citskovskis is currently on trial in the so-called case concerning flights used by former Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš.
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