RIGA - The situation when the US has imposed sanctions on Ventspils Mayor Aivars Lembergs and companies related to him will leave just a short-term negative impact on Latvia's economy, said Justice Minister Janis Bordans (New Conservative Party) in an interview with the Latvian public radio today.
The minister said that there are no guarantees in such situations, but, in general, he believes that the situation will improve in the nearest future.
He said that he will take care so that Ventspils residents do not suffer in this situation, but, at the same time, he noted that residents should think more carefully whom they elect to the city council and with what price it comes.
The minister said that Lembergs' influence on the Riga port is still being estimated. In his opinion, gradually many persons and companies funded by Lembergs will be revealed.
Bordans rejected information that during his recent visit to the US he had discussed Lembergs' case with the US officials. He said that the parties discussed the general situation and which persons in which ways influence or have influenced Latvia's politics.
Asked about whether any other residents might be included in the list of sanctions, Bordans said that it is not in his competence.
As reported, the US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) on December 9 imposed sanctions on a number of physical and legal persons in Europe, Asia and Latin America, including on Latvia's Ventspils mayor Aivars Lembergs, based on the so-called Magnitsky act.
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