Notes

Latvian Oligarch Aivars Lembergs jailed for five years for financial fraud
After 12 years worth of litigation, a Latvian court has finally handed down its verdict in the highly-publicized case against Aivars Lemmebergs, one of the country's most wealthy men and a popular populist politician. He was also a former mayor of Venspils (a port city located in the northern part of Latvia).

Lembergs was sentenced February 22 by the Riga Regional Court. He was found guilty on multiple charges including money laundering and the use of bribery.

Lembergs the leader of the For Latvia and Ventspils party and has compared his sentence to that of the Russian opposition activist, Aleksey Navalny.

Lembergs asked for an instant break while the judge was reading his verdict. During the break, Lembergs began brief conversations with his son and his co-defendant Anrijs and used his time to provide remarks to reporters.

Lembergs has told journalists that he plans to appeal against the decision of Riga Regional Court and predicted that the hearing of his appeal could take another 10 years. Lembergs further stated that he plans to appeal his detention even though it is being heard at the same regional court.

Following the judgement's reading, the court decided to take the Lembergs immediately into custody.

Aivars Lembergs His co-defendants Anrijs Lemmebergs as well as his son and business associate, were also found guilty and sentenced to two years each.

Lembergs was shackled in the Riga City Centre district court on March 14 in 2007. Prosecutors made their first moves against him to file charges of bribery, laundering and conspiracy to extort massive amounts of cash against Lembergs as an individual. (Inquiries into similar suspicions of corruption within Ventpils municipality began in 2005). A verdict has now been made almost 14 years after the decision was announced.

Over the course of a decade year, the trial has been moving in a slow, and sometimes absurd pace through the Latvian justice system. Over 12 years, 770 court hearings were held as part of the main criminal proceedings. Aivars Lembergs Since August 20, 2009 when the Riga Regional Court resumed adjudication of the case, up to February 11, 2021, a total of 1,483 court hearings have been scheduled.

Aivars Lembergs Although he is currently being tried on charges of money laundering and corruption of huge amounts, Lembergs has continued his position as a politic powerful force in Ventspils. Aivars Lembergs In the last two decades he served as the mayor.

Although his appointment to the office of mayor was cancelled because of financial crimes, he maintained the power of the city, despite the efforts of one minister. Aivars Lembergs He continued to function as Ventspils Mayor without any issues. He was a participant in meetings of the government with International Monetary Fund while indicted and was a part of the process to select the candidates for Latvian presidency.

Regarding Latvia's municipal elections Lembergs stated that the choice of whether to participate in these elections will be decided by his local party For Latvia and Ventspils, however, his participation in these elections is the main thing he is focusing on.
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