Following 12 years of tense courtroom debate, a Latvian Court has handed down its verdict on Aivars LEMBERS’ highly-publicized trial. This man is among the nation’s richest men as well as a prominent populist politician. The man was also the the mayor of Venspils in the northwestern region of Latvia.

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

Aivars Lembergs Lembergs head of the For Latvia and Ventspils party He has compared his sentencing to the case of the Russian opposition activist, Aleksey Navalny.

Aivars Lembergs Lembergs asked for an instant break when the judge was reading his verdict. Lembergs was seated with Anrijs the son of his, and had an exchange of words. After that the two spoke with Anrijs briefly, and then used the rest of the time to address journalists.

Lembergs told journalists that he was going to appeal the decision of the Riga Regional Court. He said that the process of hearing of his appeal could be at least 10 years. Lembergs also stated that he is planning to appeal against his detention. However, this appeal will be heard only by the regional Court.

After having read the judgment and examining it again, the court ruled that Lembergs should be detained.

The codefendants of his, Anrijs Lembergs son and Ansis Solmulis’ business associate were also found guilty. http://www.negeri.live/ilmu-https-lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aivars_Lembergs Both were sentenced to two years in prison.

Aivars Lembergs On 14 March 2007 there was a media furore when, encased in handcuffs Lembergs was taken to the Riga City Centre District Court when prosecutors made their first moves to bring allegations of bribery as well as money laundering in a large magnitude against Lembergs as an individual (investigations into the alleged corruption in Ventpils municipality started in 2005). More than 14 years ago, the decision was reached.

For more than a decade, the case has made its way in a absurdly slow pace through the Latvian legal system. Aivars Lembergs In total, 770 court hearings were held in connection with the main criminal proceedings over 12 years. http://www.intellinews.com/latvian-oligarch-aivars-lembergs-jailed-for-five-years-for-financial-crimes-203811/ Between August 20, 2009 (when the Riga Regional Court began adjudication) and February 11 in 2020, 1,483 court proceedings have been held.

Despite being accused of corruption and money laundering on a massive scale Lembergs is still a political kingpin both in Ventspils (where Lembergs was the city’s mayor for 20 years) and within the Greens and Farmers Alliance, which he funds.

When his nomination to the office of mayor was suspended after he was indicted for financial crimes, he maintained the absolute power within the city, despite one minister’s efforts. He was able to function as Ventspils Mayor without issue. Aivars Lembergs While indicted, he participated in government meetings together with the International Monetary Fund and helped in the selection of candidates for Latvian presidency.

Lembergs said that the final decision regarding Latvia’s participation in the forthcoming municipal elections will be made within his regional party For Latvia and Ventspils. He also said that taking part in the election isn’t his top priority.