Repse unhappy with anti-corruption efforts

Former central bank head Einars Repse, who now leads the New Time party and is one of Latvia's most popular public figures, alleges that government officials and agencies in Latvia are involved in the smuggling and sale of contraband goods, including cigarettes, alcohol, meat and even illegal drugs.

According to Repse, whose recently formed party expects to make large gains in national elections next fall, some officials not only ignore the smuggling and sale of contraband but often take an active part in it.

"The smuggling of goods in Latvia is organized and covered by officials in institutions that are directly responsible for fighting smuggling," Repse told The Baltic Times. "The smuggling and sale of contraband can be extremely profitable for the people involved in it because they don't have to pay value-added and customs taxes on the smuggled goods."

Repse did not name any of the officials allegedly involved.

Prime Minister Andris Berzins refutes Repse's claims, saying that the current government has taken more steps to combat corruption than any previous administration.

"My government has the political will to bring order to the country and to get rid of the epidemic (of corruption)," said Berzins.

Berzins cited the formation of the corruption prevention bureau and the enactment of legislation to eliminate conflicts of interest as examples of the efforts his government has taken to combat corruption.

Repse, though, feels that the fact that drugs are so easily bought on the street shows the reluctance on the part of those in power to combat the problem.

"It is absolutely no problem for people to buy drugs on the street," said Repse. "Anyone can find and buy them. They aren't combated and those people selling them are virtually free to do what they want.

"This indicates certain interests in certain powerful circles - the notion not to do anything (about it)."

The recently established corruption prevention bureau that Berzins referred to is still without a director.

There are allegations that the bureau is just a smoke screen that was set up to deflect international criticism of the Latvian government's poor record of fighting corruption.

Earlier this year, American Ambassador to Latvia Brian Carlson chastised the Latvian government for its perceived inactivity in fighting corruption. According to the Paris-based Transparency International, Latvia last year ranked 59th out of 91 countries studied in its annual Corruption Perception Index.

"The bureau will have the power to do its job," said Berzins' adviser Peteris Elferts. "The bureau will have the teeth it needs to be able to investigate and act against a wide range of corruption."

According to Repse, though, the bureau will not have the independence it needs in order to function properly.

"The bureau is an institution that is doomed to fail from the very beginning," said Repse. "It would only work if it is given independence from government and was under the responsibility of the prime minister's office.

"It needs to be self-sufficient, and it should be powerful enough to issue warrants, arrests and to perform other legal duties so that it wouldn't have to turn to any other state institutions for help."