Court decides to reopen the case on Usakovs' dismissal as Riga mayor

RIGA - After receiving new information, the Administrative Regional Court on December 18 decided to reopen a case on dismissal of the current European Parliament member Nils Usakovs (Harmony) as the mayor of Riga, LETA learned at the court.

Before that, Usakovs turned to the Administrative Regional Court asking the court to reopen the case, pointing out in his petition that he had received new information that was relevant to the case.

According to Usakovs, the Corruption Prevention Bureau started proceedings against him to analyze his responsibility as the mayor of Riga and Rigas Satiksme public transport company's shareholder for transferring the Riga City Council's funds in the amount of EUR 18.4 million to Rigas Satiksme to be invested in the company's share capital.

During the investigation, the Corruption Prevention Bureau, including with the help of independent accounting experts, concluded that even though the purpose of the transfer was not correct, the transaction had no impact on the Riga City Council's budget, and that is why the criminal case was closed.

After getting acquainted with Usakovs' petition, the Regional Court concluded that latest information submitted by Riga's ex-mayor could be essential for correct review of the case, therefore the court decided to reopen the case and add Usakovs' petition to the materials in the case.

Review of the case will continue on March 25, 2021.

As reported, the Administrative District Court in April 2020 rejected Usakovs' protest against then Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Juris Puce's (For Development/For) decision to dismiss Usakovs as the mayor of Riga.

Usakovs filed an appeal and, as a result, the case ended up at the Regional Administrative Court.

Usakovs' appeal claimed that the judge presiding at the case was a former Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry's official and therefore she was in a conflict of interest.