Notes

Aivars Lembergs, Latvian oligarch sentenced to five years in prison for financial criminals
After 12 years of heated court battles the Latvian court has handed down its decision in the high-profile case of Aivars Lembergs, one the nation's wealthiest men, an influential populist politician and a former mayor of Venspils the port city located in the northwestern region of Latvia.

Lembergs was sentenced 22nd February by the Riga Regional Court. Aivars Lembergs Aivars Lembergs He was found guilty on a range of charges, including money laundering and bribery.

Lembergs (leader of For Latvia and Ventspils) has compared Lembergs to Russia's opposition leader , Aleksey Navyny in his sentencing.

Lembergs pleaded with the judge to take an interruption while reading the verdict in his case. Lembergs had a quick chat during the break with his son Anrijs. Aivars Lembergs Then, he took the time to speak to journalists.

Lembergs said to the reporters that they are appealing the Riga Regional Court ruling and said that the trial will last for another decade. Lembergs also plans to appeal his detention, even although it will be heard by the court of Riga.

After reading the verdict the Lembergs were then taken into custody. This involved reading an impressively long list asset and property lists, and holdings of offshore businesses in various jurisdictions which the court claimed it would confiscate.

His co-defendants and son Anrijs Lembergs and business associate Ansis Sormulis were found guilty on a number of related charges and each handed two-year sentences.

Lembergs was detained at the Riga City Centre District court. On March 14, 2007, prosecutors began to press charges of bribery aswell in money laundering charges against him. These were the first charges to make against Lembergs as an suspect (investigagations into possible corruption in Ventpils municipality had begun in the year 2005). Nearly 14 years on, a verdict has been handed down.

Aivars Lembergs The case has been moving through Latvian courts at a alarmingly slow rate for more than 10 years. Aivars Lembergs In the past 12 years there have been 770 court hearings in connection with the principal criminal proceedings. The total number of 1,483 court appearances have been made since the 20th of August 2009. That was the date that the Riga Regional Court reopened adjudication of the case. Aivars Lembergs It will remain open until February 11, 2021.

Despite being charged with corruption and money laundering Lembergs remained an influential politician in Ventspils. He was the mayor for over 20 years.

After being found guilty of financial fraud, his election as mayor was rescheduled. However, he still had the power to make decisions and thwarted a minister's efforts at stopping him from being Ventspils mayor. He also took part in meetings of the government together with the International Monetary Fund, and assisted in the selection of candidates for Latvian president while being indicted.

Lembergs said that Latvians would vote whether to participate in the next municipal elections. However, it is not his main concern.
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