Corruption Prevention Bureau starts criminal procedure on Usakovs' possible criminal offenses

RIGA – The Corruption Prevention Bureau (KNAB) has launched a criminal procedure into dismissed Riga mayor Nils Usakovs’ (Harmony) possible criminal offenses, the Latvian public television reported.

The criminal procedure has been launched at the application of the Environment Protection and Regional Development. In early April, after Environment Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Puce (For Development) dismissed Usakovs from the position of the mayor, the ministry asked KNAB and the Prosecutor General’s Office to look into Usakovs’ possible criminal offenses.

The minister repeatedly claimed that the ministry’s decision to dismiss Usakovs was not politically motivated as the violation’s discovered on the mayor’s part were serious. They have been committed repeatedly and shamelessly, so the ministry had to take action.

Puce made the order due to the many violations established in Usakovs' oversight of the Rigas Satiksme municipal public transportation company. Usakovs has violated various laws and regulations, according to the ministry. Puce's order can be appealed at the Administrative District Court within 30 days.

Usakovs has publicly called his sacking a political score settling and plans to fight it in court.