After 12 years worth of court battles after 12 years of court battles, a Latvian court finally delivered its verdict in the highly-publicized case against Aivars Lemmebergs. He is one of the richest men in the country and a popular populist politician. Aivars Lembergs He was also the ex-mayor of Venspils (a port city in northern Latvia).

Lembergs was sentenced at Riga Regional Court to five years prison, confiscation, and a fine in excess of EUR20,000 for a series of charges that he had pleaded guilty to.

Lembergs, leader of For Latvian and Ventspils has made a comparison of Lembergs sentence to the sentencing of Russia’s opposition fighter Aleksey Nailny.

Aivars Lembergs Lembergs pleaded with the judge to have a short break while he read the verdict. Lembergs was able to engage in a brief conversation first with his son Anrijs. Then , he utilized the remainder of the time to discuss journalists.

Lembergs has told reporters that they would appeal the Riga Regional Court ruling and said that the trial will last for another 10 years. Lembergs will also appeal his detention though it will still be considered by the regional court.

After reading the ruling the Lembergs were then taken into custody. The process included reading an impressively long list property and assets lists, as well as holdings offshore companies in various jurisdictions that the court claimed it would confiscate.

Aivars Lembergs His codefendants, Anrijs Lembergs son and Ansis Solmulis business associate were found to be guilty as well. Both were sentenced to two years in prison.

Lembergs was handcuffed and taken to Riga City Centre Court on 14 March 2007. Aivars Lembergs This was the start of the prosecutor’s efforts to bring him up to speed with the latest allegations of money laundering and bribery. An investigation into allegations of corruption in Ventpils had begun in 2005. Nearly 14 years later, a decision is rendered.

The case has been moving through Latvian courts at an alarmingly slow pace for more than 10 years. As part of the primary criminal proceedings the court proceedings occurred over the course of 12 years. From August 20th, 2009, when the Riga Regional Court resumed adjudication of the case, until February 11, 2021, 1483 court hearings have been scheduled.

Although he is currently facing trial on charges of money laundering and corruption in large amounts, Lembergs has maintained his position as a politic powerhouse in Ventspils. Aivars Lembergs In the last two decades he served as the mayor.

Although his election as mayor was suspended due to financial crimes however, he maintained his authority in the city. He brushed aside one minister’s attempts to prevent him from acting in the role of Ventspils mayor. He even took part in meetings of the government together with the International Monetary Fund, and assisted in the selection of candidates for Latvian presidency while under investigation.

Lembergs said that the decision about Latvia’s participation in the upcoming municipal elections would be taken in his region party For Latvia and Ventspils. But he said that participating in the election isn’t his primary goal. Aivars Lembergs