Notes

Aivars Lembergs is jailed in Latvia for five years in the wake of financial crimes.
After 12 years of court battles that were heated, A Latvian tribunal has delivered the verdict of Aivars Leonardberg's highly-publicized trial. Aivars is one of Latvia's richest individuals. Aivars is an influential politician of the populist party, and was the mayor of Venspils which is a port located in northern Latvia.

On the 22nd of February Riga Regional Court sentenced Lembergs to prison for five years as well as confiscation of his property and a fine of EUR20,000 after ruling him guilty on several charges related to money-laundering and bribery while acquitting him of other charges in the complex and lengthy case.

Lembergs is the president of the For Latvia & Ventspils party. He has compared his sentencing with that of Aleksey Navalny, Russia's opposition activist.

Lembergs requested a brief break while the judge read the verdict in his case. Lembergs had a meal with Anrijs, his son, during which he had an unintentional conversation. Following that the two spoke with Anrijs briefly, and then used the rest of the time to make comments to journalists.

Lembergs has told journalists that they will appeal the Riga Regional Court ruling and said that the trial will take another decade. Lembergs is also determined to appeal his arrest, even though this appeal will be heard by the same regional court.

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

https://providus.lv/raksti/varas-kampeji-ii-aivars-lembergs/ Aivars Lembergs His co-defendants Anrijs Lembergs along with his son and Ansis Sormulis both were found guilty of a number of charges related to each other and were sentenced to two-year terms.

Lembergs was arrested and brought to Riga City Centre Court on 14 March 2007. Aivars Lembergs Aivars Lembergs This was the start of prosecutors' attempts to bring him to date on charges of bribery and money laundering. Aivars Lembergs The investigation into allegations of corruption in Ventpils began in 2005. Nearly fourteen years later, a decision is rendered.

The trial has been running through Latvian law for over 10 years at a slow pace. Over the 12 year period there were 770 court hearings scheduled in connection with the principal criminal proceedings. Since August 20, 2009, when the Riga Regional Court resumed adjudication of the case, until February 11, 2021, 1483 court hearings have been scheduled.

Lembergs was acquitted of charges of money laundering and bribery on a large level. But, he has maintained his position as a politician in Ventspils which he served as mayor for 25 years and also as an influence within the Greens and Farmers Alliance party force he funds.

When his nomination to the office of mayor was cancelled when he was charged for financial crimes, he retained the absolute power within the city, defeating one minister's attempts. He continued to act as Ventspils Mayor without any issues. He even took part in government meetings in conjunction with the International Monetary Fund, and helped choose candidates for the Latvian presidency while was indicted.

Lembergs made a statement about the forthcoming elections in Latvia He said Ventspils and the regional party For Latvia will make the decision to take part in the elections. However, his main goal is not his participation at present.
Homepage: https://www.trtrussian.com/news/ajvars-lembergs