Justice minister resigns in Latvia after being denied access to classified documents

Latvian Minister of Justice Baiba Broka has resigned today following a row over access to classified information.

The Minister was denied access to classified documents by the Constitutional Protection Bureau (CPB) earlier this year. Speaking at a press conference. Broka said she could not attend government meetings where information was withheld. 

CPB head Janis Maizitis said that there were serious reasons for the bureau's decision, and that Broka most probably knew very well why she was not permitted to access classified information.

Broka appealed the Constitutional Protection Bureau's decision to the prosecutor general at the end of June. She has also said that she will not run in the 12th Saeima elections this fall.

Broka will most probably turn to the European Court of Human Rights now, the minister's press secretary Inese Aunina said earlier today.

Broka explained that she was a responsible minister, aware that, in the coming months, the government would have to take several important decisions regarding the sale of Citadele banka, various matters that concern "Latvijas Gaze" and others, and in order to participate in the government meetings where these matters will be reviewed, the justice minister must have access to classified information.

VL-TB/LNNK board member Imants Paradnieks said at the press conference that candidates for the soon-to-be vacant post of the justice minister would be considered tomorrow or on Wednesday.