The suspended Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs, who was declared guilty of crimes of corruption earlier this year and put under arrest, has submitted a request to Latvia’s Ministry of Justice, requesting a compensation of EUR 321 468, as confirmed by Lembergs’ defence attorney Māris Grudulis.
According to Lembergs, the prohibition for him to serve as chairman of Ventspils City Council and chairman of the board of the Freeport of Ventspils was applied to him «in breach of the law and without any justifiable reasons».
Lembergs believes this security measure remained in force for thirteen years and a half and was only lifted on 22 February 2021. This is why he decided to submit the compensation request.
However, what Lembergs seems to forget is that he remained the de facto chairman of the city council – he actively participated in the work of the city council all these years. No decision in the municipality was made without him knowing.
If his request is declined, Lembergs says he will turn to the European Court of Human Rights.
On 22 February 2021 Riga Regional Court sentenced Aivars Lembergs to five-year prison sentence, confiscation of property and a fine of EUR 20 000.
Lembergs was put under arrest immediately after the verdict was read. It was decided to add to his total sentence the time Lembergs spent under arrest and house arrest in 2007 and 2008.
The court also ruled Lembergs is to pay victims in the criminal case compensation of approximately EUR 64 000. The court also decided to enforce from Lembergs legal costs of EUR 22 180 for services provided by the state-appointed lawyer.
Lembergs was found guilty in 19 episodes and not guilty in 21 episodes.
Lembergs was found guilty of bribery, document forgery, money laundering, service forgery, illegal participation in property deals, as well as reporting false information in income declarations.
He was found not guilty of abuse of official power and violations of restrictions imposed for state officials.
Lembergs has appealed the verdict.
Lembergs’ son Anrijs Lembergs was sentenced to two years and one month in prison, as well as confiscation of property. He was declared guilty of money laundering and supporting participation in prohibited monetary deals.
Lembergs’ one-time business partner Ansis Sormulis was sentenced to two years in prison, as well as confiscation of property. Sormulis was declared guilty of supporting money laundering, money laundering and supporting participation in prohibited monetary deals.
The court also decided to terminate the criminal process portion involving Ventspils businessman Jurijs Bespalovs’ criminal activities due to statute of limitations. Bespalovs passed away in 2012.
Riga Regional Court commenced the trial in 2009.
Lembergs also ran and was elected in this year’s municipal elections Ventsils. He was not prohibited from running in elections because the guilty verdict has not yet come to force.
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