Tax director gunned down

RIGA - Another gangster-style killing took place in Latvia on June 14 in the eastern city of Ludza, and for the first time in recent history a high-ranking official was the victim.

State Revenue Service local branch Director Vjaceslavs Liscovs was shot four times on his way to work.

Liscovs later died in a Ludza hospital.

His driver also suffered a gunshot wound in the shoulder. Police believe Liscovs' killing might be linked to smuggling. The Terehova and Grebneva border checkpoints, both hotspots for smuggling, are located in the Ludza district.

Liscovs had reportedly been threatened several times and according to his widow Anna Liscova, he had turned to State Revenue Service general Director Andrejs Sonciks for protection, but was turned down.

The State Revenue Service would neither confirm nor deny this claim, but Dita Klavina, a State Revenue Service spokeswoman, confirmed that Liscovs had been threatened several times.

"Apparently the criminals had no other option than to carry out their threats," Klavina told the Baltic News Service agency.

A couple of months ago, Liscovs' driver was assaulted with a baseball bat, and some customs officials, who had also threatened Liscovs, were dismissed on suspicion of corruption.

To speed up the investigation, Finance Minister Gundars Berzins has suggested a reward be paid to anyone who can provide information that would help solve the crime.

The Parliament's national security committee chairman, Oskars Grigs, told BNS that fighting organized crime takes political will and more funds for the Interior Ministry.

"Our current government is weak and incompetent, therefore, soon we will see attacks on politicians," he said.

Meanwhile, Liscova fears for her life and for her two remaining sons, aged 13 and 17.

In television interviews she has voiced concern for her family's safety, saying an unidentified car has been circling her house.

Liscova has also accused police authorities of not searching her family's house, where Liscovs kept his documents. However, local media have reported that some of his documents disappeared while being transported by police to Riga.

Police spokesman Krists Leiskalns confirmed to The Baltic Times, that: "There have been a few arrests." He refused to comment further.

According to reports, one of the detained is businessman Raitis Kononovs, who has been connected to smuggling previously.

Police say they have two different theories concerning Liscovs' death – his work position and family circumstances.

Liscovs has worked for the State Revenue Service in Ludza for the past seven years. He has been director for the last year and a half.

Last year well-known businessman Dainis Peimanis was killed in similar fashion.

Interior Minister Mareks Seglins and Prosecutor General Janis Maizitis have pledged they will personally supervise the investigation of Liscovs' death.